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Heat under pace fire
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Lower-order batters options at big prices
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Perth batting order to change
Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat
Saturday 7 January, 10:15
TV: Live on BT Sports
Team news
Adam Lyth should be available for the final time before departing for the UAE T20 leagues. Stephen Eskinazi is waiting in the wings for a chance in the opening berth while Cameron Bancroft has also shown form. It looks likely that Faf Du Plessis has departed.
It wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to get Lyth out of the team now as, frankly, he has been poor. Sam Hain might be available. Gloucestershire's David Payne's arrival is imminent.
Possible XI: Eskinazi, Bancroft, Hain, Inglis, Turner, Hobson, Richardson, Kelly, Tye, Behrendorff, Hatzoglou
Heat have put back-to-back batting powershows together. That both came against Sydney Sixers is a feather in their cap. They would have probably won both had it not been for weather ruining their chances last time out.
This is also a last hurrah for Colin Munro and Sam Billings. So this could be the last chance to get with them.
Possible XI: Munro, Brown, Billings, Peirson, McSweeney, Whiteley, Bazley, Neser, Steketee, Kuhnemann, Swepson
Pitch report
Six of the last 15 at Perth Stadium have seen first-innings scores of 170 or more. The highest first-innings score in four games this term is 155. The pitch might have something to do with it. Or it could be Perth's strength and weakness: fantastic bowling, mediocre batting.
Despite Heat's recent hitting, this pace attack is a severe test. The best betting angle is to play under 160 Heat runs. A lay at around 2.001/1 is possible.
How to play
Perth are 1.674/6 and Heat 2.37137/100. It's what one would expect for a top-of-the-table team versus a second-from-bottom team.
It is hard to rationalise a bet on Heat. The Perth bowling is excellent, the pitch helpful to them. And Heat's own bowling is no great shakes, either. Perth really should win easily.
Tops value
Josh Inglis is carrying Perth's batting and he is 10/3 for top bat. A favourite at No 4 is not much fun. Hain and Eskinazi are 4s. With Perth dangerous with the new ball and a low score on the cards, Ross Whiteley and James Bazley at 14s and 25s have appeal. AJ Tye is 3/1 for top Perth bowler. He has an excellent record against Heat with 18 wickets in just 11 games.