The dead rubber fixture between the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades will round out the Big Bash League home and away season, with both sides hoping to finish off the year on a winning note, as to avoid being handed wooden spoon honours.
With the Sydney Showgrounds set to play host, it offers up the chance for Thunder fans to cheer on their Chris Green led side for one last time, before the curtains close on an underwhelming campaign for the 2015-16 champions.
BBL13: Thunder vs Renegades Betting Tips
Sydney Thunder
Last week’s Sydney smash loss to cross town rivals, the Sixers, to all but confirm their place in the four, perfectly summed up the 13thedition of the BBL for the lime green team who have one win to show for it to date.
Much of the attention has turned to showcasing emerging talent late in the year, with a similar lineup expected to depict that, with games under the belt for their next generation a clear focus under head coach Trevor Bayliss.
After knocking off the Melbourne Stars early in proceedings, pundits predicted it’d kickstart the season, the Thunder had other ideas, losing their next 6 on the trot and throwing away a year that promised big things on paper.
Handed an assignment against the lowly placed Renegades, it gives Thunder fans something to cheer in a season that fell short of expectations. As it currently stands, the market suggests the travelling side has the narrow edge, with Sydney underdogs in this affair.
Predicted XI: David Warner, Alex Hales, Cameron Bancroft, Oliver Davies, Alex Ross, Matthew Gilkes (wk), Daniel Sams, Chris Green (c), Nathan McAndrew, Liam Hatcher, Tanveer Sangha
Melbourne Renegades
For the Melbourne Renegades, BBL13 has lacked in a results driven capacity, but much hope can be placed on the shining lights that have made waves in the shorter format throughout a farewell year for some.
Shaun Marsh and Aaron Finch announced their retirement, closing the door on both their domestic careers in the white ball arena, whilst it allowed for a changing of the guard as a result at the top of the order.
The baton has seemingly been passed on to young rising star Jake Fraser-McGurk, who has become a household name, synonymous with both firepower and flare, characteristics that were attributed to both the departing greats at their ball-striking best.
Will Sutherland is another that has warmed to the captaincy role, having had to fill the shoes of Finch, and is growing by every game played as a leader on-field despite he too being only 24-years of age.
Predicted XI: Scott Edwards, Shaun Marsh, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Jordan Cox (wk), Jonathan Wells, Will Sutherland (c), Akeal Hosein, Tom Rogers, Fergus O'Neill, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa
Match Prediction
With nothing on the line to play for other than pride, it’s anyone guess as to which way the cookie crumbles, but in saying that, the Renegades may just find something to send off Marsh on good terms as they did for Finch.
They’ll have to do it against the run of play though, with an ugly away record staring them in the face, having lost each of their last seven as the traveling side. Siding with the Renegades, but with no real confidence.
Renagades to Win
$1.80 (2 Units)
Same Game Multi
Cameron Bancroft 20+ runs: Expecting a big bounce back from Bancroft after a couple of false starts with stick in hand, for the price on offer it seems like money for jam for a man who churns out runs for fun.
Shaun Marsh 25+ runs: Marsh will just carry where he left off the other night, with his 64 not out off 49 rocks steering them home against the Stars, backing him in big time to repeat the dose opposed to the Melbourne side this time of the red variety.
Tanveer Sangha 2+ wickets: Has multiple poles against the Renegades in consecutive outings, tipping the wily leggy to spin a web around the middle to late order after some early fireworks at the beginning of their bowling innings.
Same Game Multi
$5.85 (1 Unit)
