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Brisbane Heat vs Adelaide Strikers highlights: Big Bash League live scores, blog

8th January, 2016
Venue: Gabba, Brisbane
Start: 7:30pm (AEDT)
TV: Live, Network Ten
Betting: Heat $2.25, Strikers $1.62
The Brisbane Heat were carried through the season on the back of Chris Lynn. (Image: Ten Play)
Roar Guru
8th January, 2016
162
3097 Reads

The Brisbane Heat are looking to get off the bottom of the table when they face the Adelaide Strikers, who want to secure top place. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:30pm (AEDT).

When the Strikers staff and players sat down to analyse their opposition in the days building up to this game, they probably spent the majority of their time on one player, Chris Lynn.

Lynn currently sits atop of the Big Bash run scorers’ chart, with an incredible 287 runs at an equally incredible strike rate of 175.

He has been the best player in the tournament, his contribution made all the more emphatic when compared to his teammates – Jimmy Peirson’s pawltry tally of 90 runs in the tournament has him second to Lynn on the Heat’s run-scoring list

Having taken wickets freely throughout the tournament the Strikers, will be confident if they get Lynn early they will overcome Brisbane’s batting.

Adil Rashid, with 10 wickets, has been the most consistent bowler for Adelaide, with fellow leg-spinner Cameron Boyce taking a wicket every two overs on average. Rashid’s bowling means the Strikers are a constant threat in the middle overs, but the death bowling expertise of Ben Laughlin – who has seven wickets in the tournament – means they are able to close out a game like few other sides.

For their part, the Heat have struggled with the ball. Their leading wicket-taker, Andrew Fekete, has a modest four wickets, though it should be noted that in almost comical fashion, Fekete has not been selected for the Heat’s last two games.

Perhaps the one bright spark for their bowling has been Samuel Badree. With only one wicket in 20 overs, Badree has not been tearing teams apart with his leg-breaks, but his miserly economy rate of 6.80 suggests batsmen have simply negotiated his overs, before cashing in on the other bowlers. Once Badree gets some support, we may see his best.

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The Strikers have largely relied on their middle order for their runs, with Brad Hodge and Travis Head both averaging over fifty. But a new-look opening partnership of Jayawardene and Tim Ludeman in their previous game also offered them success upfront, the duo adding 84 against the formidable Scorchers bowling unit.

Prediction
The Strikers look capable of beating any opposition, while the Heat also look likely to lose to any opposition. Nothing is a certainty in Twenty20 cricket, but a Strikers victory is very likely.

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