The Brisbane Heat will host the Adelaide Strikers in the penultimate game of BBL13, with the victor qualifying for the big dance on Wednesday night!
Brisbane have been the team to beat all season, but the Strikers will travel to Carrara Stadium full of confidence after downing the Scorchers at their Optus Stadium fortress!
Draftstars have put up a huge $20,000 contest for this clash, so check out our preview before constructing your line-ups.
BIG BASH LEAGUE (BBL13) FINALS FANTASY TIPS: HEAT VS STRIKERS
Heat Squad: Nathan McSweeney, Xavier Bartlett, Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Jordan Buckingham, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Mitch Swepson, Paul Walter, Charlie Wakim, Jack Wood
Strikers Squad: Matthew Short, Wes Agar, James Bazley, Cameron Boyce, Josh Kann, Thomas Kelly, Ben Manenti, Harry Nielsen, David Payne, Lloyd Pope, D’Arcy Short, Henry Thornton, Jake Weatherald
The Brisbane Heat rode a wave of momentum towards the BBL13 finals, but two consecutive losses have them second guessing ahead of a huge fixture against the Strikers.
It’s clear that the departures of Colin Munro and Sam Billings have had a massive impact – there is no longer an A-grade batter in the team capable of winning a match off their own bat.
As such, pressure has fallen on all-rounders Paul Walter and Michael Neser to deliver in both disciplines, which they have failed to do in the matches against the Scorchers and Sixers.
Without a season best contribution from one of the batsmen it will be up to the bowlers to bring this one home, so Heat fans will be hoping that one of the top five can stand up.
On the other hand, Adelaide are flying heading into this final, with five consecutive victories under their belt.
In The Knockout, the Strikers did something that few other teams have, go to Perth and win.
It was thanks to the in-form Jake Weatherald (56) and leg-spinners Lloyd Pope (4/22) and Cameron Boyce(3/20), who all shouldered extra responsibility after a rare Matt Short failure.
I expect the Strikers to attack this contest unchanged as a result, trusting their current personnel and game plan to get the job done.
Fantasy Plays
Love It – Michael Neser ($19,800)
Neser is peaking at the right time, with two 100+ scores from his last three appearances. After managing the veteran quick’s loads during the early stages of the tournament, the Heat have unleashed him leading into the finals to great effect, and I expect him to play a significant role on Monday night with both ball and bat.
Love It – James Bazley ($12,100)
This is a little out of left field, but I think Bazley could be a fantastic POD selection. The Brisbane all-rounder has been well below his best this season, averaging just 22 DFS points. However, he has taken the most wickets of any bowler at Carrara Stadium (9), the venue for this final. That stat may lead the Strikers hierarchy to give Bazley an opportunity with the ball, and he is sure to bat given Adelaide’s lack of depth in that department.
Don’t Love It – D’Arcy Short ($15,500)
Unlike Neser, Short’s form has tailed off as the season has gone on, culminating in a return of just 7.5 DFS points against the Scorchers in The Knockout. We haven’t seen a 50+ score from Short since late December, and on a tricky Gold Coast surface it’s hard to see him turning that trend around.
Don’t Love It – Max Bryant ($13,800)
Bryant has been solid in his three BBL13 starts, averaging 42 DFS points as a middle order hitter. That has seen his salary blow out to nearly $14k, a high price to pay for a volatile batsman whose involvement varies from game to game. It’s that price that’s scaring me away here, especially considering the other bargain batting options on this slate.
Who Knows – Matthew Short ($23,500)
Short has been the MVP of BBL13 by a long way, but a failure against Perth the other night proved that he’s human. Short scored just 43 DFS points in The Knockout, failing to provide failing at a whopping $24k, and he has been priced similarly for this fixture. Most expect Short to bounce back, but if he doesn’t, non-owners have a massive head start on this slate.
Suggested Draftstars Lineup
