Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash Final Tips: Sixers clear value in chase

• Scorchers eye sixth title

• But sixers clear value in chase

• Runs lines may be high

• Smith and Starc make the difference

• For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers 
Sunday 25 January, 08.15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash final team news 

Scorchers have added fast bowler Joel Paris to their squad for the final with Sam Fanning, the batter, left out. Josh Inglis and Jhye Richardson, post Ashes, are both involved. David Payne, Laurie Evans and opening-bat blitzer Finn Allen are the overseas

Probable Perth XI: Marsh, Allen, Hardie, Inglis, Connolly, Turner, Evans, Richardson, Couch, Payne, Beardman

Sixers are better off for Babar Azam's incredible sulk. Daniel Huighes opens the batting with Steve Smith instead. There is power on the bench for Sixers with Jordan Silk and Hayden Kerr not even able to get into the XI. The middle-order does look a little light and there is perhaps an over-reliance on Smith.

Probable Sixers XI: Smith, Hughes, Phillipe, Henriques, Shaw, Davies, Edwards, Manenti, Dwarshuis, Abbott, Starc

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash final pitch report

In the last 10 games at Perth Stadium the first-innings average is 147 and there is a 70% toss bias for the chaser. In the last 30 the numbers are 158 and 60. Batting has been tricky this season and there has been no score higher than 153 in first dig. When the sides met earlier this season on the ground it was at its best with Sixers' 111 in 11 overs trumped by Perth in a rain-affected game. Perth's total match runs at under 162.5 is an early play at 10/111.91. 

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash final match prediction

Sixers have won eight of their last nine and to win the title it will require a sequence of four straight wins. Perth have won five in a row. There can be no argument that this is not a worthy final between the two storied franchises in the Bash. Perth are eyeing a sixth title, Sixers a fourth.

But whether Perth are the worthy favourites at prohibitive odds remains to be seen. They are 1.784/5. Given the big-game potential of the likes of Smith and Mitchell Starc for Sixers, we had this down as a choice affair.

Given the toss bias for the chaser, backing Sixers with that in favour makes sense. They have always been a crack unit going after a total. we do not expect the match odds market to budge post flip. Sixers were our pre-series tip for glory and we see no reason to change given the odds.

Sydney Sixers v Hobart Hurricanes Big Bash player bets

Steve Smith has won ten of his last 13 top bats in the Bash so the 7/52.40 from Sportsboook is not likely to be deemed short enough. In that sequence he has only twice gone under his runs line so overs 28.5 looks cheap at 20/231.87. As stated before, the easiest bet may be the performance buy at 33.5 (1pt per run, 10 per catch, 20 per wicket). it does nto require Smith to have a good game to win at 5/61.84. 

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