BBL 2018-19, Match 17: Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers

BBL 2018-19 by
Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers

Sydney Thunder will look to get back to winning ways as they return to the Spotless Stadium to host Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League.

The match is scheduled for January 2 and the live action begins at 13:45 IST

Toss Prediction

Hobart have won the bat flip twice in three matches and elected to field first on both occasions though they also won batting first against Brisbane.

Sydney Thunder Team News & Playing 11

Sydney Thunder Team

Arjun Nair was brought in to offer an extra spin-bowling option for the game against Adelaide Strikers but the off-spin bowler, who replaced Nathan McAndrew, only bowled one over.

He may retain his place, however, alongside Jonathan Cook – who made his Big Bash debut in the most recent game at Spotless Stadium, the Sydney derby. Cook and Sam Rainbird were expensive last time out though, so if there are to be changes it is likely to be in the bowling line-up.

Sydney Thunder Key Players

Big-hitting England batsman Jos Buttler is the top run scorer after four matches in the 2018/19 Big Bash League. He has scored 195 runs from four innings, including 63 from 37 balls against Sydney Sixers and 89 from 54 against Hobart Hurricanes.

He is opening the batting with Shane Watson, the Thunder captain, meanwhile – who hit a match-winning century in the IPL final earlier this year and is looking to return to his best form. Top scorer last time out, however, was Callum Ferguson – who hit 47 from 39 balls. England test captain Joe Root follows him in the batting order and will hope to hit top form after a couple of short cameos so far.Daniel Sams was back to his best with the ball last time out, meanwhile, taking his seventh and eighth wickets of the tournament so far as he claimed 2-24 from his four overs. That includes a two-over spell in which he claimed 3-5 against Melbourne Stars.

Sydney Thunder Team Form

Sydney Thunder won their first two matches this time out, as Jason Sangha hit 63* from 36 balls in a total of 181/5 before Daniel Sams’ 3-5 helped them restrict Melbourne Stars to 74/6 from eight overs – 16 runs short on the DLS method in a rain-affected reply.

The Thunder followed that by claiming Sydney bragging rights against the Sydney Sixers. Jos Buttler hit 63 from 37 balls in a total of 169/9 before wickets for Sams and Fawad Ahmed led them to a 21-run derby win.

They have lost two from two since, however, despite Buttle smashing 89 from 54 balls against the Hobart Hurricanes. The total of 193/6 proved just short, as the Hurricanes won by seven wickets with five balls to spare. And, most recently, they finished 20 runs short of Adelaide Strikers’ 175/4 – reaching 155/6 – as they record back-to-back losses.

Sydney Thunder Predicted Playing 11

  • Jos Buttler, Shane Watson, Callum Ferguson, Joe Root, Jason Sangha, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Arjun Nair, Jonathan Cook, Sam Rainbird, Fawad Ahmed

Perth Scorchers Team News & Playing 11

Perth Scorchers Team

Cameron Bancroft replaced Josh Inglis as wicket keeper as he made an immediate return from his ban for ball tampering.

The disgraced Aussie international scored just two runs, however, and Josh Inglis can consider hard done by after taking the gloves in the Scorchers’ win against Adelaide Strikers. Perth Scorchers were otherwise unchanged, with Mitchell Marsh still away on international duty.

Perth Scorchers Key Players

Hilton Cartwright scored 29 from 35 balls in the low-scoring defeat to Hobart Hurricanes, having also scored a half-century in the defeat against Sydney Sixers. He is their top run scorer so far, but no Perth Scorchers has passed 100 runs across the first four games.

Instead, it has been the bowlers providing the chief highlights. Jason Behrendorff went wicketless from his two overs last time out but he did take two apiece in each of the first three games. Jhye Richardson claimed 3-7 from three overs, including a maiden, in the win against Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile, and bowled 12 more dot balls as he record figures of 1-22 against Hobart Hurricanes.

Andrew Tye took 2-9 from 2.2 overs – including a maiden against Adelaide Strikers, meanwhile. He is yet to consistently show the form that has made him a key figure in the Big Bash League in recent seasons, however.

Perth Scorchers Team Form

After recording their first win at the third attempt when they faced Adelaide Strikers, Perth Scorchers lost again last time out. They were dismissed for just 103 in their first game, against Melbourne Renegades, and lost by four wickets with 4.4 overs to spare, and then finished 17 runs short of Sydney Sixers’ 164/4 in their second game despite a Hilton Cartwright half-century.

They bounced back by bowling Adelaide Strikers out for 88 from 17.2 overs – Jhye Richardson claiming 3-7 from three overs and Jason Behrendorff and Andrew Tye taking two wickets apiece before they went on to win by seven wickets.

Perth could not back it up, however. They posted just 107/8 from their 20 overs and crashed to a six-wicket defeat with 2.3 overs to spare against the Hobart Hurricanes

Perth Scorchers Predicted Playing 11

  • Michael Klinger, Cameron Bancroft, David Willey, Ashton Turner, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar, William Bosisto, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff

Sydney Thunder vs Perth Scorchers Head to Head

Perth Scorchers have won five of their seven previous games against Sydney Thunder, losing just two. Last season was one of those defeats, however, as Usman Khawaja hit 85 from 51 balls as the Thunder posted 175/4 and Cameron Bancroft’s unbeaten 75 from 56 balls was not quite enough, as the Scorchers finished three runs short on 172/4.