Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Match Prediction, BBL
Sydney Sixers await the winners of Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, as the two teams meet in the Big Bash League 2019-20 Challenger play-off – effectively the semi-final – at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The match takes place on February 6 and is set to stat at 19:40 local time.
Melbourne Stars were the top team in the league phase of the tournament, winning ten of their first 11 matches. They topped the table despite losing their last three matches, but their lack of momentum continued when they were bowled out for 99 in the Qualifier – missing their first shot at reaching this year’s final as a result.
Sydney Thunder, on the other hand, only just sneaked into the play-offs but arrive at this match in good form. They have won two play-off matches to get this far already and boast Alex Hales in fine batting form as well as this season’s top BBL wicket-taker, Daniel Sams. With the momentum in their favour, they could set up a Sydney Derby in the final.
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Toss Prediction
Last time out at the MCG, the Stars won the toss and elected to field first. It could still be a winning tactic, but the Thunder have been in good form batting first recently.
Weather Report
A sunny day makes way for a cloudy evening in Melbourne but conditions should otherwise be warm and with only a very minimal chance of rain.
Pitch Condition
The MCG has had something for everyone so far, neither leaning strongly to the batsmen or the bowlers.
Read on for team previews, betting tips, latest odds and match prediction for Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder, Challenger, BBL.
Melbourne Stars Team News & Playing 11
MLS Team News
Sandeep Lamichhane is on international duty with Nepal, but Haris Rauf – one of three Stars named in the team of the season – returned last time out. Hilton Cartwright has been out injured with a fractured hand.
MLS Key Players
Marcus Stoinis: Named Player of the Tournament, having scored 612 runs – including five half-centuries and a BBL record-breaking 147*. He also took a wicket in his first over of the tournament last time out.
Glenn Maxwell: Picked up another wicket last time out and has been in good form with the bat previously too – enough to earn a recall to Australia’s T20i squad, anyway, and be named in the team of the tournament.
Adam Zampa: Followed up his 3-27 against Brisbane Heat with 3-21 against Sydney Sixers. The team might not have played well on his return from international duty but the spinner is at least thriving.
MLS Team Form
Melbourne Stars have now lost their last four matches in a row, including two miserable batting performances in their last two matches. Despite topping the table after some fine form early on, they folded for 115 against Brisbane Heat at the end of the round-robin phase and then posted just 99 last time out against Sydney Sixers.
Melbourne Stars Predicted Playing 11
Nic Maddinson, Marcus Stoinis, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Peter Handscomb, Seb Gotch (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clinton Hinchcliffe, Adam Zampa, Dan Worrall, Haris Rauf
Sydney Thunder Team News & Playing 11
SYT Team News
Gurinder Sandhu has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to injury, but Sydney Thunder have been unchanged without him for their two play-off wins so far. They could well stick with that same winning XI again.
SYT Key Players
Alex Hales: The big-hitting Englishman has hit form at the perfect time, dominating with the bat with four half-centuries and a 47 in his last five innings. He has now scored 568 runs in 16 innings, with a strike rate of 147.91.
Daniel Sams: Took 3-26 in the win against Adelaide Strikers and he now has 30 wickets in total in this year’s tournament. He also passed 50 wickets in T20 cricket last time out, in his 35th innings in the format.
Chris Morris: Moved to 20 wickets for the tournament last time out as he claimed 2-22 to follow up his 3-27 in the first play-off against Hobart. He also scored a useful 21 with the bat.
SYT Team Form
Sydney Thunder have now won their last three BBL 2019-20 matches in a row, including two play-off matches to reach this Challenger match. Alex Hales hit 60 in a total of 197/5 in their first play-off match, before Jonathan Cook (4-21) and Chris Morris (3-27) helped bowl Hobart out for 140.
That set up a place in the Knockout to face Adelaide Strikers, where Hales hit 59 in a total of 151/7, and Daniel Sams (3-26) and Morris (2-22) starred with the ball to seal an eight-run win.
Sydney Thunder Predicted Playing 11
Alex Hales, Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson (c), Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Chris Morris, Arjun Nair, Jay Lenton (wk), Chris Tremain, Brendan Doggett, Jonathan Cook
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Head to Head
Melbourne Stars won both matches between these two teams this season, taking them to six in 12 matches and an equal record overall. Haris Rauf took 3-24 and Marcus Stoinis and Nick Larkin hit half-centuries as the Stars chased 143 to win the first by three wickets. Then, next up, Rauf took 3-23 and Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell scored the half-centuries as the Stars reached 148/4 in 17.5 overs to win by six wickets.
MLS vs SYT Head to Head Stats
| Matches Played |
MLS Won |
SYT Won |
Tie |
No Result |
| 12 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Betting Odds
Melbourne Stars beat Sydney Thunder twice in the group and are favourites as a result, but the form tables have switched completely since then and the Thunder could upset those odds.
MLS Bet365 Odds
- MLS to Win the Match: Melbourne Stars are 1.75 favourites to win with Bet365.
- MLS Top Batsman: Marcus Stoinis has been named Player of the Tournament and he is 3.25 favourite with Bet365 to be the Stars’ top batsman again. Glenn Maxwell is 4.00 and Nick Larkin is 5.00 – both men having hit half-centuries against the Thunder already this season. Nic Maddinson and Peter Handscomb can both be backed at 5.50.
- MLS Top Bowler: Haris Rauf took three wickets in each of the Stars’ two wins against Sydney Thunder and he is now 3.50 to be their top team bowler again with Bet365. Adam Zampa has three wickets in each of the Stars’ last two matches, meanwhile, and he can be backed at 4.00. Nathan Coulter-Nile is 5.00 and Clinton Hinchcliffe 5.50.
SYT Bet365 Odds
- SYT to Win the Match: Sydney Thunder are 2.15 to win with Bet365.
- SYT Top Batsman: Alex Hales’ batting has been central to their resurgent form and he is 3.25 favourite to be their top team batsman with Bet365. Usman Khawaja is 4.00 and Callum Ferguson can be backed at the same price.
- SYT Top Bowler: Daniel Sams now has 30 wickets for the season and he can be backed at 3.25 to be Sydney Thunder’s top team bowler with Bet365. Chris Morris is 4.00, meanwhile, having taken 20 wickets so far including five in the last two matches.
MLS Betway Odds
- MLS to Win the Match: Melbourne Stars are 1.72 favourites to win with Betway.
- MLS Top Batsman: Marcus Stoinis is also 3.25 with Betway to be the Stars’ top team batsman, while Glenn Maxwell can be backed at 4.33 and Nick Larkin and Peter Handscomb are both 5.50. Nic Maddinson is 6.50, having opened again in recent matches.
- MLS Top Bowler: Haris Rauf is a generous 4.33 to be the Stars’ top team bowler with Betway and Adam Zampa can be backed at another generous price of 4.50 with Betway. Nathan Coulter-Nile is 5.00 and Clinton Hinchcliffe is as high as 6.50.
SYT Betway Odds
- SYT to Win the Match: Sydney Thunder are 2.05 to win with Betway.
- SYT Top Batsman: Alex Hales is 3.50 with Betway to be Sydney Thunder’s top team batsman, ahead of Usman Khawaja – who is 4.00 with Betway – and Callum Ferguson, who can be backed at 4.33.
- SYT Top Bowler: Daniel Sams is now 3.50 with Betway to be Sydney Thunder’s top team bowler, whereas Chris Morris can be backed at 4.33. Both have been in excellent form this season, with 50 wickets between them. Jonathan Cook took four at the start of the play-offs, meanwhile, and he is 5.50.
🏆 Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder Prediction
Melbourne Stars’ form has dipped, whereas Sydney Thunder have the momentum behind them. They could upset the odds in this game.
Feb 06, 2020
14:10 IST / 8:40 GMT
Melbourne Cricket Ground - Melbourne, Australia
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