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Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers: Big Bash League cricket highlights, live scores, blog

21st January, 2017
Time: 7:25pm (AEDT)
Venue: MCG, Melbourne
TV: Live on Ten and Ten HD
Betting: Melbourne $1.81, Sydney $2

Melbourne Stars
Micahel Beer, Scott Boland, Jackson Coleman, Seb Gotch (wk), Evan Gulbis, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, John Hastings, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey (c), Kevin Pietersen, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Tom Triffitt, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright, Adam Zampa

Sydney Sixers
Sean Abbott, Jackson Bird, Doug Bollinger, Johan Botha, Ben Dwarshuis, Brad Haddin (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Dan Hughes, Michael Lumb, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Colin Munro, Jordan Silk
Kevin Pietersen congratulates David Hussey of the Stars after catching Andrew Tye of the Scorchers during the Big Bash League (BBL) T20 match between the Perth Scorchers and the Melbourne Stars at the WACA, Perth on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017. AAP Image/Richard Wainwright
Editor
21st January, 2017
164
9276 Reads

It’s sudden death for the Sydney Sixers tonight who sit precariously on the edge of the top four coming into the final game of the season against the Melbourne Stars, who also risk elimination. Catch all the live scores, highlights and BBL action on The Roar from 7:25pm (AEDT).

This has been one of the tightest T20 competitions of all time this season, with all but one side capable of making the finals leading into the final round of games.

The Sixers sit in fifth at the moment on the wrong end of a poor net run rate that has hampered their chances at reaching the top four.

A win tonight would shoot them up from fifth all the way into at least second place, with a chance of a taking top spot if they can really run over the Stars.

Two points tonight would guarantee them a home final, but a loss would mean no final at all, such are the stakes for tonight’s high-pressure contest.

Same goes for the Stars, with a win guaranteeing first place, but if they lose heavily, they have the potential to drop from second down to fifth on net run rate. It’s a fine line for the two sides.

Both sides are coming off losses leading into this one.

The Stars were dealt with fairly easily by the Heat on Tuesday, losing by seven wickets after a poor batting display left the Melbourne side reeling with the ball in hand.

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The Sixers copped a loss as well, but they were hammered by cross-town rivals, the Thunder.

The Sixers lost 6/15 at one point through the middle of the innings and limped to the 20 over mark on a poultry 99 runs.

To make matters worse, the Thunder knocked over the runs in just 10 overs, absolutely destroying the Sixers net run rate and leaving them in the precarious position they find themselves in at the moment.

Sydney have been able to contain a lot of batting sides with their strike power, including the competition’s leading wicket-taker Sean Abbott.

They’ve had to bowl well to compensate for a batting line-up that has disappointed a bit this season, despite some strong form from opener Daniel Hughes at the top of the order.

Similarly, Melbourne’s star attractions haven’t quite clicked this season with Kevin Pietersen being the only one to shape up, picking up a pair of half centuries throughout the tournament.

Prediction
Sydney will have to bounce back big time from their shocker against the Thunder, but they’ve proven to be a resilient side this season.

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The Stars look to have the better overall side leading into the game though and the home ground and massive MCG crowd might be a big factor as well.

Melbourne Stars to win by 3 wickets or 8 runs

Catch all the live scores, highlights and BBL action on The Roar from 7:25pm (AEDT).

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