6:15pm local time on Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the WACA Ground, Perth
Perth Scorchers
$1.67 at Luxbet.com
Ladder position: 2nd
BBL form: W W L W W
Melbourne Stars
$2.38 at www.Sportsbet.com
Ladder position: 3rd
BBL form: W W W W L
Second plays third this Saturday as Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars look to stake their respective claims for a top-two finish in Big Bash League 2015-16.
It is their first meeting of the season, and both will be eager to get one up on the other and keep pace with first-placed Adelaide Strikers.
The Scorchers have lost only twice in BBL 05 so far – both times to the Strikers – and will fancy themselves to notch win number six against a depleted Stars side.
The Melburnians were without Scott Boland, James Faulkner, John Hastings and Glenn Maxwell for Thursday night’s massive defeat to Brisbane Heat, with all four away on international duty.
Hastings was called up to replace the rested Mitchell Marsh for the second ODI at Brisbane, but Cricket Australia could release him for the Stars’ trip to Perth if he is not required for the remainder of the five-match series against India.
The Scorchers are missing opening bat Shaun Marsh and left-arm seamer Joel Paris, along with the injured Nathan Coulter-Nile, but will regain captain Adam Voges this weekend after his man-of-the-series display against the West Indies in the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Perth Scorchers squad
Adam Voges (C)
Ashton Agar
Cam Bancroft
Jason Behrendorff
Michael Carberry
Marcus Harris
Brad Hogg
Michael Klinger
Simon Mackin
James Muirhead
Ashton Turner
Andrew Tye
Sam Whiteman
David Willey
Unavailable: Nathan Coulter-Nile, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Joel Paris
Melbourne Stars squad
David Hussey (C)
Michael Beer
Seb Gotch
Evan Gulbis
Peter Handscomb
Sam Harper
John Hastings*
Ben Hilfenhaus
Kevin Pietersen
Rob Quiney
Marcus Stoinis
Tom Triffitt
Daniel Worrall
Luke Wright
Adam Zampa
Unavailable: Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Glenn Maxwell
(* Could be removed due to international commitments)
Match predictions
Result – Perth Scorchers to win ($1.67 at www.Luxbet.com)
Most match sixes – Perth Scorchers ($2.05 at William Hill)
Highest first six overs – Perth Scorchers ($1.90 at CrownBet.com)
Playing at home after a six-day break, it’s hard to look past the Scorchers here.
The only question is whether the week off will leave them a little rusty.
They are missing a couple of players due to the ongoing One Day International series, but the return of Voges alone adds an enormous weight of form, experience and leadership to the batting lineup.
The Stars, meanwhile, looked brittle without Boland, Faulkner, Hastings and Maxwell in their 56-run loss to the Heat on Thursday evening.
The potential return of Hastings this weekend would bolster Melbourne’s bowling significantly, but one suspects Perth will find a way to win at the WACA.
Kevin Pietersen betting markets
It’s been all or nothing from Melbourne Stars’ marquee man so far in BBL 05.
Although he has reached double figures only three times in six knocks, two of those were big half-centuries.
But that inconsistency proved costly against Brisbane Heat, as the former England star followed up his match-winning 67 not out against the Renegades with a measly seven runs.
With the likes of Maxwell and Faulkner missing, he can’t afford to keep missing out.
Should the openers fail again this Saturday, KP will need to step up if the Stars are to have any chance of taking home the points.
Top score for Melbourne Stars – $3.75 at Bet365
Top score for the match – $6 at Sportsbet
Man of the match – $9 at Sportsbet
