Friday night Big Bash action lights up the Gabba as the Brisbane Heat host the Melbourne Stars, with the two sides heading in very different directions. Brisbane are searching for answers after a frustrating New Year’s Eve loss, while the Stars arrive as the form team of the competition, unbeaten and brimming with confidence as they look to extend their perfect start.
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Big Bash League (BBL15) Heat vs Stars Betting Tips
The Gabba, Friday, 2nd January, 7:15pm AEDT
Brisbane Heat
The Heat slipped to 2 and 3 on the season after a disappointing defeat to the Strikers on New Year’s Eve. Batting first, they never found momentum and were bowled out for just 121, with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann the lone bright spot, top-scoring as the only player to pass 30. It was a performance that exposed some fragility through the middle order and left their bowlers with little to work with.
The response with the ball offered few positives, as Adelaide cruised to the target in just 14.1 overs. Brisbane will be hoping for a lift with Shaheen Shah Afridi expected to return after missing that clash, a boost that should add pace and wicket-taking threat at the top. Back at the Gabba, the Heat will be desperate to rediscover the aggression and confidence that marked their early season wins.
Melbourne Stars
The Stars continue to be the story of the tournament, sitting undefeated at 4 and 0 after another dominant performance against the Thunder. Bowling first in their most recent outing, they dismantled Sydney for just 128, with veteran Peter Siddle once again exceptional, conceding only 5.5 runs per over, while Haris Rauf added genuine menace with figures of 3 for 29.
The chase was clinical. Joe Clarke led from the front with a polished 60 off 37 balls, Sam Harper continued his impressive rise with 29 off 27, and Glenn Maxwell added the finishing touches with a rapid 39 off 20 as the Stars passed the total in just 14 overs for the loss of a single wicket. Their balance, depth and composure across both disciplines have set them apart early in the season.
Match Prediction
It is hard to look past the Stars in their current form. They are operating on another level with both bat and ball, and the emergence of Sam Harper at the top has given them another genuine match-winner to complement Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis. Their bowling unit, meanwhile, has barely missed a beat, applying pressure from the powerplay through to the death.
Brisbane will take some confidence from returning home and from Afridi’s likely inclusion, but they need a significant turnaround after their New Year’s Eve showing. Against a Stars side this settled and ruthless, that feels like a big ask. The lean is Melbourne Stars to move to 5 and 0, continuing their unbeaten run on Friday night.
Stars to win
$1.65 (2 Units)
BBL Heat vs Stars Prop Bet
Taking Hilton Cartwright to top score for the Stars for some juicy odds here. He has not been required often this season, but his numbers at the Gabba are outstanding, averaging 53.0 from seven innings, and he also averages a healthy 33.75 across 14 games against the Heat. If the Stars bat first and Cartwright gets the chance to enter later in the innings with freedom, this shapes as a strong spot for him to make an impact.
Cartwright top Stars scorer
$8.00
