Melbourne Renegades take on Sydney Sixers in the 14th Big Bash League game to be played at Melbourne (Docklands) on Monday.
The hosts Renegades (4/6 at
SportingBet) lost two successive games to open their Big Bash League campaign but came back strongly to strangulate Sydney Thunder in their previous game. The win was one of the best comebacks in the tournament and it came about despite Chris Gayle’s smashing half-century.
Earlier, the Renegades had gone down to Adelaide Strikers by a whopping 67 runs and then lost to the Perth Scorchers by eight wickets. It looked like they were on the verge of being pummelled to their third consecutive loss when in a chase of 140, Gayle plundered a 54-ball 75.
However, man-of-the-match Shahid Afridi (8/1 at
Ladbrokes) slowed their scoring down with an excellent spell of 3/21 from his four overs while Dirk Nannes conceded only 10 from his quota to win it narrowly against Sydney Thunder.
At one stage in that game, the Renegades should have themselves got to much more than they eventually did. Starting with an opening partnership 82 in 10 overs, the Renegades lost their way and scored only 58 from their last 10 overs.
The slow nature of the pitch could have been a factor but the lower order needs to contribute much more than they already are – and consistently at that. In-form Glenn Maxwell (5/1 at
bet365) and Nathan Reardon will look to get some runs.
Sydney Sixers (6/5 at
SportingBet) started the competition off with a comprehensive win over Brisbane Heat, but crumbled in their chase of 170 to table-toppers Hobart Hurricanes. They recorded their second win from three games in the match against the Melbourne Stars – a narrow two-run victory.
Brad Haddin’s batting has been missed since his return to the national side but the promotion of Dwayne Bravo to the top of the order did the trick for the Sixers in their previous game. Bravo scored a match-winning half-century in a man-of-the-match-winning cause.
Nic Maddinson (4/1 at
Boylesports) has been getting starts but needs to make a big one. It will be imperative for him to make them count when he has seen off the initial period of uncertainty at the crease.
Brett Lee’s bowling has wowed many of his fans despite his costly last over against the Stars. He has conceded only 68 runs from the 12 overs he has bowled this Big Bash League. Captain Steven Smith will hope to send down his four overs economically, while Stuart MacGill will hope to pick up a few wickets.
Melbourne Renegades squad
Abdul Razzaq, MJ Buchanan, RGL Carters†, AJ Finch, SM Harwood, AK Heal, JM Herrick, MW Hill, BJ Hodge, AB McDonald*, BG McDonald, GA Manou, GJ Maxwell, DP Nannes, NJ Reardon, Shahid Afridi, WD Sheridan, SW Tait
Sydney Sixers squad
DJ Bravo, JR Hazlewood, MC Henriques, B Lee, MJ Lumb, NJ Maddinson, IA Moran, PM Nevill†, SNJ O'Keefe, BJ Rohrer, SPD Smith*, MA Starc, DJ Thornely
The Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers Big Bash League 2011-12 game will be played at 8.00 am GMT on Monday, January 2.
