Sydney Sixers will play Sydney Thunder play the 19th game of Big Bash League 2011-12 on January 8.
This is one of two games that will be played on Sunday in the Big Bash League 2011-12. Both sides have two wins from four games and with only three games to be played by each of the teams, this encounter becomes one of paramount importance.
As things stand in the points table, there are five teams of the eight who have four points. Three have them played four games while two others have played five matches which means that a win here will help the side get into the top three for now.
Thunder (10/11 at
SkyBet) started the competition off rather well with their two wins in as many games. In the first one, Dave Warner cracked a superb century to ensure their victory against the Melbourne Stars. Then Chris Gayle (7/4 at
Ladbrokes) came to the party with a century of his own against the Strikers to guide them to the successive wins.
But just when things were looking good for Sydney Thunder, came the successive losses on either side of the new year’s eve. On December 30, they failed to chase down 141 against Renegades despite Gayle’s superlative half-century and then on the new year’s first day, they put on only 138 batting first. Gayle got to another fifty but the rest of the side failed again.
It does look like Thunder lack the fire-power to go after the bowling and the dismissal of Gayle often renders them clueless. This is one chink that Sixers bowlers, Brett Lee and the spinners will look to exploit.
The Sixers (21/20 at
SportingBet) have been up and down in the tournament. They won their first game against Brisbane Heat thanks to a superb 76 from their captain Brad Haddin, but his absence in the second game meant that they crashed to a 42-run defeat. They came back strongly to edge out Melbourne Stars by two runs, before going down to the powerful hitting of Andrew McDonald and Brad Hodge in their fourth.
Batting has been Sixers’ biggest problem as they struggle to find an opener of note at the top of the innings. Bravo (7/2 at
Boylesports) was promoted up the order and he made a half-century but he is not a natural at that position. Bowlers may not waste time in getting the better of him.
Moises Henriques was a long time overdue and got a 30-ball 41 in their last game. He will look to bat higher in the order.
Sydney Thunder squad
SA Abbott, TJ Armstrong, ND Bills, DE Bollinger, LR Butterworth, SJ Coyte, TD Cruickshank, MR Day, LA Doran, BR Dunk†, FH Edwards, JS Floros, CH Gayle, PJ Hughes, UT Khawaja, CA Philipson
Sydney Sixers squad
DJ Bravo, EJM Cowan, PJ Cummins, JR Hazlewood, MC Henriques, B Lee, MJ Lumb, SCG MacGill, NJ Maddinson, IA Moran, PM Nevill†, SNJ O'Keefe, BJ Rohrer, SPD Smith, MA Starc, DJ Thornely, SR Watson
The Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers Big Bash League game will begin at 7.00 am GMT on January 8.
