The Big Bash heads to Marvel Stadium for the first time in BBL13 as the Renegades look for their first win of the season when they host the undefeated Brisbane Heat. It’s a huge game for both sides as the Renegades look to keep their finals hopes alive!
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BBL13 Betting Tips
Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat
Marvel Stadium, Thursday 21st December, 7:15 pm AEDT
Melbourne Renegades
Predicted XI: Quinton de Kock, Joe Clarke, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Nic Maddinson, Aaron Finch, Jonathan Wells, Will Sutherland, Tom Rogers, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Mujeeb Ur Rahman
It’s been a disjointed start to the season for the Renegades, who had their last match before the week long hiatus abandoned after just six overs due to a dangerous pitch in Geelong. The Renegades lost their opening game against the Sixers by eight runs, and sit with just one point from their opening two games, in desperate need of a win given the shortened season.
The Renegades will likely make just the one change from their abandoned fixture against the Scorchers, with Adam Zampa returning after being managed for their last game. Zampa and Mujeeb will be a handful on a Marvel Stadium surface that has been spin friendly over the past few seasons.
The Renegades will be looking for big contributions from their star imports in Quinton de Kock and Joe Clarke at the top of the order. De Kock is coming off a stellar World Cup where he scored 594 runs at an average of 59 with a strike rate of 107, including four centuries. Clarke was the sixth highest run scorer in BBL12 with 381 runs at a strike of 124, and given the Renegades struggles with the bat at the top of the order in their opening game of the season, he will need to start well on Thursday night.
Brisbane Heat
Predicted XI: Colin Munro, Josh Brown, Matthew Renshaw, Sam Billings, Nathan McSweeney, Paul Walter, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Mitch Swepson, Matt Kuhnemann
Brisbane have had an outstanding start to the season, with two wins and a washout from their opening three games. The Heat have usually been slow starters, however the nature of both of their victories have been ultra impressive. On the opening night of the season on a fast deck at the Gabba the Heat piled on 3/214, and proceeded to skittle the Stars for 111 in a 103 run victory. In their second game on a slow pitch in Canberra, the Heat bowled out for the Thunder for 131 to secure a 20 run victory.
The Heat have been led by their new captain Colin Monro who at the time of writing is the leading run scorer in the competition. The New Zealander has scored 146 runs at a strike rate of 154, with knocks of 99 not out and 46 off 33 to start his campaign. It comes on the back of an impressive BBL12 where Monro scored 278 runs from eight games at an average of 34 and a strike rate of 150.
The Heat also have the two leading wicket takers of BBL13, in Mitch Swepson and Xavier Bartlett. Bartlett has 5 wickets at an average of 8.90 and an economy rate of 6.14, while Swepson has 5 wickets at an average of 9.80 and an economy rate of 6.83. The Heat’s improvement this season has come on the back of their bowling attack who have been outstanding in their opening two games this season.
Match Prediction
The Heat haven’t put a foot wrong so far this season, and having wins in two very different manners should give fans confidence that they will be able to handle whatever the surface throws up at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night. If it does spin, with Swepson and Matthew Kuhneman in the side, the Heat have a bowling attack that is capable of putting the Renegades under the pump.
The Heat have won their last two games at Marvel Stadium, and have won five of their last six games overall. The Renegades have had a far from ideal start to their season given their abandoned game in Geelong, and haven’t had an opportunity to build any sort of momentum. The Heat will continue their undefeated start to the season and pick up a third straight victory.
Brisbane Heat
$1.75 (1.5 Units)
Same Game Multi
Colin Monro 20+ Runs: Monro is in hot form to start this season, continuing from an outstanding season in BBL12. In his last seven Big Bash games Monro has scored 379 runs at an average of 63 with scores of 46, 99*, 45, 38, 10, 98 and 43. Monro has been one of the best batsmen in the Big Bash over the last few years since joining the competition and is set for another big knock.
Quinton de Kock 15+ Runs: The Renegades star import will be looking to make a big impact early in his BBL career. The powerplay has been the easiest time to score in games at Marvel Stadium whilst the ball is still hard, so expect de Kock to come out all guns blazing when he gets his chance to bat.
Matthew Kuhnemann To Take a Wicket: Kuhnemann has taken at least one wicket in his last four games, with hauls of 2/18, 1/17, 1/28 and 3/17. Kuhnemann has been at his miserly best to start this season with an economy rate of 5.83 and an average of 11.66, and will enjoy the spin friendly conditions at Marvel Stadium.
