Big Bash Tips Matches 35 and 36: Back 14/1 Evans as Perth look to land top-two spot

• Hobart win will confirm top spot in league

• Expect dominant home display from Webster and co

• Renegades out of play-off picture

• Perth need to win so must go hard with bat

• Evans underrated as top bat chance at 14s

Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat Big Bash tips

Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat

Wednesday 14 January, 08.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

A win for Hobart Hurricanes will guarantee top spot in the league ladder as they look to defend their title. They have been the best team in the competition again and are boosted by the return from Ashes duty of Beau Webster.

Webster was carded to bat at no 3 for Hobart in the washout against Sixers. It shows the strength of depth that Jake Weatherald, when available, probably won't get in this XI.

Heat are in the race to finish third or fourth but two wins from their last two are going to be required as well as Sixers dropping points. They have been buoyed by Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne returning. Khawaja has been skip.

It was a surprise to see Labuschagne carded at No 6. He probably has a floating role so Betfair Sportsbook's 15/28.50 about a top-bat win may have some appeal.

At Bellerive, batters tend to dominate and we would expect the home team to enjoy a runfest. Three of the four games so far have busted 175. Their par line is likely to be in the mid-170s and we note Heat's profligate bowling so far this term. Backing Hurricanes to win and hit most sixes (which analysts would argue is a related double) is 11/82.38.

In an ideal world Heat bat first and, true to their ability, post a decent score which allows us to get with Hobart at something chunky in the chase in-play. They could well be value to get up to 250 in the extremes. 

Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers Big Bash tips

Melbourne Renegades v Perth Scorchers
Wednesday 14 January, 08:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Renegades' hopes of a play-off were snuffed out by a rain-affected defeat by bottom team Sydney Thunder last time out. It has been another desperately disappointing campaign for the franchise. No matter who they bring in to bolster their chances, they fail to progress.

Jacob Behrendorff, a major coup signing from Perth, cannot seem to buy a wicket. Adam Zampa has been in and out of the side while Jake Fraser-McGurk's career continues to go down the pan. Even Tim Seifert, normally so reliable, cannot get one off the square, having started the season with a ton.

Perth need to keep winning to make the top two as teams finishing in those positions get two attempts to make the final. Their modus operandi is to go hard with the bat no matter the conditions. It can be a risky strategy, as evidenced when Renegades produced their best performance of the campaign when rolling them for 127 in perth to win by four wickets.

Our top-rated wager is a gamble related to the Perth batting having a bit of a wobble again. Laurie Evans is more than good for at least one win in a Bash campaign and could be due to deliver. The 14/115.00 is not commensurate with how often he cops or his ability. 

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