Click here for San Francisco Unicorns v Washington Freedom match odds
Saturday 4 July, 10.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
San Francisco Unicorns v Washington Freedom MLC Tips
It's party time in Pomona on the fourth of July but nerves could be the overriding emotion in an extraordinary MLC. All six teams are joint-top and all six teams are joint-bottom. Only net run rate separates them.
Unicorns are at the top with three wins from five while Freedom sit bottom with an even money record from their six matches. It is extremely tight.
It may transpire that Unicorns are a top team and they certainly seem to have the edge here over a Freedom unit who have lost their ability to dominate after last season's run to the final. The sides met last week with Unicorns handing out an eight-wicket thrashing.
The good news for Freedom is that skip Steve Smith has found a semblance of form. He finally won the top-bat market last time out in a six-wicket success against LA.
We're not convinced the Pomona surface is conducive to a good time. For batters at least. It is a brand new venue and it does appear that the square needs time to bed in. Scores of 108, 132 and 173 in the first dig do not scream road. There might be an angle on under 15.5 sixes but in-play on the exchange any chance to short a par line at even money in the late 160s is one to take.
Matt Short is overdue a top-bat win for Unicorns. Short is 4/15.00 with Sportsbook. He has impressed against Freedom in the past. In his two knocks he has taken 67 and an unbeaten 34 this season.
Back Matt Short top SFU bat
Click here for LA Knight Riders v MINY odds
Sunday 5 July, 02.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
LA Knight Riders v MI New York MLC Tips
On what could be a Pomona pitch tricky for the batters, it is time to start considering big-priced top-bat winners. A 20 or 30 could win this market if the new surface struggles to hold up under persistent traffic.
The first player to pick out is Sunil Narine. Narine doesn't win the number of top bat markets that he should considering he is often promoted up the order. But the 33s is way too big for a player who has already batted as high as No 4 this season. That was against MINY in the head-to-head so there is likely to be a match-up that the team analyst has identified for Narine to exploit.
The MINY market is a little trickier as it contains two players who dominate the bet. Betting Quinton de Kock or Nic Pooran has paid huge dividends over the MLC. Both have won this term with De Kock landing last time.
The alternatives are not endless but Romario Shepherd at 9/110.00 could do late damage while Corbin Boach also catches the eye at 14s. They are expected to bat at Nos 6 and 7. Sportsbook do keep open the market in-play so twice these prices should be available with a reasonable start from a batter above them.
MINY have played one game fewer than LA. They look well set to defend their crown with a healthy net run rate. It is an opportunity for them to lay down a marker and become the first side wo win three games in a row.