In just about as crucial as a game gets, both the Sydney Thunder and Brisbane Heat come into this match desperate for the win that might spark their season into life.
The Thunder’s fortunes have been well documented, having now not won a KFC BBL match for more than two years.
They struck early in both matches of 2014, claiming early Stars and Scorchers wickets while defending a similar score, but yet again weren’t able to carry that through the rest of the innings.
The Heat come into this match on the back of three straight losses, and simply must win this match to be any show of qualifying for the semi-finals. Another loss here and Brisbane can kiss their BBL|03 title defence goodbye.
Sri Lankan leg-spinner Ajantha Mendis will make his debut for the Thunder, replacing English international Eoin Morgan, who has joined the England squad for the limited over stage of their tour of Australia.
Morgan had been one of the Thunder’s better performers in his four games, and his will be massive shoes for the Thunder to fill.
Brisbane have lost batsman Joe Burns for this match, after he suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s thrilling last over loss to the Sydney Sixers.
Burns will miss at least two games, and will be replaced by Peter Forrest in the only change to the 13-man.
Key Battle: Mike Hussey v Dan Vettori
There are very few batsmen getting around in BBL|03 with a better ability at controlling the tempo, or launching an all-out attack like Michael Hussey, but similarly, there aren’t too many bowlers better equipped at slowing the momentum of a batting team than former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.
Hussey’s qualities are well known, and he sits third on the BBL|03 runs tally, as well as holding the second highest score of the competition.
Vettori is the Heat’s most economical bowler currently, and his strike rate is right up there, too.
Bowling in those middle overs, Vettori will slow the scoring rate firstly, and then take wickets as the pressure builds, just to further compound the problems of the batting team.
Dark Horse: Craig Kieswetter
The English ‘keeper-batsman leads the run-scoring list of BBL glovemen, with 102 runs from four games in BBL|03, putting him ahead of Stars and former Australian ‘keeper, Matthew Wade.
Kieswetter sits third on Brisbane’s run-scoring list this summer, but has found the boundary 16 times (11 fours, five sixes), more than any other Heat batsman.
Just as important has been his ‘keeping, which has been quite accomplished throughout, keeping Queensland ‘keeper Chris Hartley on the sidelines.
Last Time
December 28, 2012 at ANZ Stadium: In just about the perfect example of the Thunder’s fortunes in recent year, they got off to a reasonable start but lost all momentum by losing wickets all too regularly.
The Thunder lost their last six wickets for 36 inside the last six overs, setting Brisbane just 127 to win.
Heat allrounder Dan Christian finished his four overs with figures of 5/26, the second best figures of BBL|02.
In reply, Brisbane’s chase threatened to implode when they slumped to 4/57 in the ninth over, but Chris Lynn (51*) and Peter Forrest righted the ship, and reached the target for a five wicket win with more than three overs to spare.
Teams
Thunder: Michael Hussey (c), Cameron Borgas, Ryan Carters, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jason Floros, Daniel Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ajantha Mendis, Dirk Nannes, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu, Chris Tremain, Andrew Tye.
Heat: James Hopes (c), Dan Christian, Ben Cutting, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Nathan Hauritz, Craig Kieswetter, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, Luke Pomersbach, Chris Sabburg, Mark Steketee, Daniel Vettori.
Facts and Figures
Both teams have endured a number of close losses this season.
The Heat has lost by four runs (v Sixers) and three wickets with four balls remaining (v Hurricanes). The Thunder have lost by six runs (v Strikers) and by six wickets with four balls remaining (v Scorchers).
The Thunder hold the top two highest batting partnership records for BBL|03: Usman Khawaja and David Warner (116 runs) and Mike Hussey and Eoin Morgan (109 runs).
Though neither team boasts the fence-clearing record of the Melbourne Stars, who lead the tournament with 35 sixes, Brisbane’s 28 sixes have come from six different players, proving their hitting ability is well spread.
The Thunder have hit 17 sixes thus far, with five of them coming from Eoin Morgan, who could prove to be a big loss.
Cameron Gannon’s 4/24 in the Heat’s loss to the Sydney Sixers last week is the equal best bowling figures of BBL|03, alongside Test quick James Pattinson, who returned exactly the same figures for the Renegades against Hobart on New Year’s Day.
Broadcast
From 7:40pm AEDT on Channel Ten, and on Fairfax Radio Network.
Twitter
#BBL03
This preview was first published on the Big Bash League website under a new arrangement between The Roar and the BBL. Read the original article here.
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