Skip to content
GO TO bet365 Sports
Big Bash
  1. Cricket

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers: Big Bash Thursday preview

Melbourne Stars remain bottom of the Big Bash table but they are aiming to complete three wins on the bounce when they host Sydney Sixers on Thursday.

The Stars lost their first five games of the campaign before belatedly finding form to record back-to-back five-wicket victories over Brisbane Heat and Melbourne Renegades.

The Sixers, in contrast, exploded out of the blocks and won their first four matches, chasing down a target of 195 in the home clash with the Stars for the loss of only two wickets.

A 50-run defeat to Hobart Hurricanes and a washout against the Heat have hampered the Sixers' progress since then and they are 1.78 to get back to winning ways in Melbourne.

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers betting preview

Resurgent Stars targeting a rare success against Sixers

Melbourne Stars fans enjoyed an exciting win over the Renegades last time out although they may feel a sense of dread going into the fixture against Sydney Sixers.

Ben Duckett (67) and Marcus Stoinis (48) laid the foundation for the Stars' five-wicket derby victory before Glenn Maxwell (20 not out off 10 balls) and Hilton Cartwright (24 not out off 12) sealed the deal in style.

Beau Webster, fresh from his dream Test debut against India at the SCG, adds further all-round quality to the side but the Stars have lost 11 of their last 12 meetings with the Sixers.

Stoinis and his men are 2.05 to defy that trend and they will be hoping for another fast start from English opener Duckett.

It has been feast or famine for the dynamic left-hander, who has scored nought, 68, 67, nought and 67 in his first five innings of the season.

Duckett is 4.33 to be Melbourne Stars Top Batter while his opening partner Tom Rogers can be backed at 7.00 after a tough start to the competition.

Rogers has been dismissed for 14, one, two, 12, six and one in six appearances so, with that in mind, the Sixers are 1.80 to have the Highest Opening Partnership. They won that heat by a margin of 83 to 16 in the Boxing Day clash between these teams.

Left-arm pace ace could cause problems for hosts

Sydney Sixers fast bowler Sean Abbott is available but veteran Jackson Bird, who has taken seven wickets in three Big Bash outings, is not in the squad.

Bird picked up 3-35 in the Boxing Day win over the Stars, when West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein conceded 50 runs in his four overs.

Hosein, along with English opener James Vince, is making his final appearance of the season for the Sixers on Thursday and he is 5.00 to be the Top Bowler for the Sixers.

Left-arm paceman Ben Dwarshuis looks a more tempting bet in that market at 3.75 as he has claimed 10 wickets in five matches this term.

Dwarshuis failed to strike in the defeat to the Hurricanes but took 4-32 in his previous game against the Heat and dismissed the dangerous Maxwell and Cartwright in the home win over the Stars.

Read more cricket previews on site

Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers odds

Melbourne Stars - 2.05
Sydney Sixers -
1.78

View the full market and more odds for Melbourne Stars v Sydney Sixers on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

Related Articles

bet365 uses cookies

We use cookies to deliver a better and more personalised service. For more information, see our Cookie Policy