Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers Big Bash Tips: Sixers can edge it

Ed Hawkins
27 January 2023
2:00 min read

Smith has been in great touch and is 2/1 to top score for Sixers

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Ed Hawkins says Sixers are at full-strength, Perth are not for the contest on Saturday...

Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Saturday 28 January, 08:15
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Team news

Perth have been dealt a blow with the loss of Ashton Agar. Agar is required to attend a training camp in Sydney ahead of Australia's Test tour of India. Cooper Connolly, a 19-year-old spinner comes in instead.

Lance Morris joins the same camp after this match. They are desperate for Jhye Richardson to be fit then so he won't be risked with another chance to come to qualify for the final if this is lost.

Probable XI: Eskinazi, Bancroft, Hardie, Inglis, Turner, Hobson, Connolly, Tye, Behrendorff, Morris, Hatzoglou

Sydney won't have Steve Smith available for the final either but he can play if they need another match to make the final. Nathan Lyon is only available for this game and Todd Murphy not at all.

The latter two probably wouldn't have been required. Izharulhaq took one for 15 in their success over Hobart. jackson Bird or Steve O'Keefe are in a battle for the last bowling spot one suspects.

Probable XI: Phillipe, Smith, Patterson, Henriques, Silk, Christian, Kerr, Abbott, Dwarhuis, Bird, Naveed

Pitch report

There have been only two scores of 160 or more in seven in Perth this season. However, Scorchers smashed 212 against Renegades in the last game. They managed 155 in their first game of the season on this ground against Sixers. It was enough to win, though.

Overs seems to be fraught with peirl in a contest where bowlers should be bang at it. A par line of the low 160s has a sell feel. The current mark of 158.5 is about right.

How to play

Scorchers are 1.774/5 with Sixers 2.226/5. Home advantage appears to be key for the market.

Sixers lost here at the start of the season but at the back end squeezed Perth expertly when defending at home. It is fair to say that Sixers have found their rhythm since that loss.

The major factor between two closely-matched teams could be player availability. Sixers are at their strongest, Perth are not. Sixers are the wager.

Tops value

Smith has had a hat-trick of top-bat wins. Sportsbook have boosted him to 2/1 for a repeat. Josh Philippe top-scored in the previous meeting and is 7/2. Stephen Eskinazi did likewise for Perth. He is also 7/2.

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