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An eight-wicket loss to the table topping Melbourne Stars ended Perth Scorchers’ winning run in the Big Bash League, but they get an immediate shot at redemption at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday.
The Scorchers are stuck with 10 points from 10 matches and need a win, considering four teams are separated by just one point in the fight to make the playoffs. The Stars, on the other hand, are sauntering along at unbelievable pace. They are top with 18 points from 10 matches, with a huge gap to the rest of the pack.
Melbourne Stars
The Stars are having a season to cherish, led by their two international stars. Ironically, Marcus Stoinis (517 runs, SR 133.93) and Glenn Maxwell (316 runs, SR 170.81) haven’t been selected for national duty and that has benefited the Stars.
Haris Rauf (16 wickets, ER 6.89) continues to be among the wickets, while Sandeep Lamichhane (11 wickets, ER 7.35) is showing signs of getting to his best. All in all, the Stars have very little to worry and that is a prime reason for their winning run.
Perth Scorchers
The Scorchers fell flat in the previous H2H on Wednesday, but their season was beginning to pick up pace prior to that. Mitchell Marsh (354 runs, SR 151.93) is enjoying the captaincy responsibilities, while Josh Inglis (312 runs, SR 159.18) is proving to be a real catch at the top of the order.
Although they didn’t click in the previous match, the Scorchers’ bowling is being led by Fawad Ahmed (12 wickets, ER 7.05) and Jhye Richardson (13 wickets ER 7.34). If the Scorchers can brush aside their loss in the latest fixture, there is enough talent to surprise and stun the hosts.
Match Up
The Stars were expected to be given a run for their money by the Scorchers in the previous match. Instead, they dished out a hiding and are growing from strength to strength in the season. This is not good news for the Scorchers, who need to win this match to make sure they don’t fall behind in the race to top five. It should be a very interesting match that could either prove that the Stars are really here to stay or that the Scorchers can’t be written off easily. For the moment, the hosts look heavy favourites to continue their form.
History & Statistics
- The Stars have won three of five H2Hs at this venue.
- The Stars have won their last five matches at this venue, the last three seeing them win the power play as well.
- The Scorchers have hit the most 6s in seven of their ten matches in BBL09.
- The Scorchers have won six of ten H2Hs where they have lost the toss.
Key Players
While all the attention has been on Rauf and his wicket-taking ways, the smiling Nepalese leg-spinner Lamichhane has been quietly doing his job. He wouldn’t mind a repeat.
Inglis is showing cracking form and maturity that has left the Scorchers yearning for more. The aggressive opener could just be the answer to their inconsistent top-order form.