πππππ :Β Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Starsβ
ππππ : Β January 22,ββ Wednesdayββ
ππππ :β 14:00 PM ISTββββββ
πππππ : Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia
ππππππππππ : Big Bash League, 2024-25
The last loss Melbourne Stars suffered was against Sydney Thunder back on December 28.
- In-form players David Warner and Glenn Maxwell are our picks for the batters to watch out for in the Knockout.
- The highest score chased at the Engie Stadium is Sydney Sixersβ 176-3 against Melbourne Renegades in 2020.
- The team batting first will be eyeing a score of around 170-180 runs.
Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars
TV channels: The fans can watch the match live on Hotstar
Live Streaming: Live streaming of the match will be available on the FAFA191 Cricket Exchange India and website.
SYT vs MLS Match Prediction & Analysis
Melbourne Stars have secured their first appearance in the BBL finals since the 2019-20 season by turning around a tough 0-5 start with five consecutive victories. They are now set to compete against third-placed Sydney Thunder in the knockout final at Engie Stadium on Wednesday night. Interestingly, the Starsβ last defeat came against the Thunder on December 28. Since then, under the leadership of their dynamic captain Glen Maxwell, the Stars have been unstoppable. In contrast, the Thunder have shown some irregular performance. Given their current momentum, the Stars will be favorites for this knockout clash.
TEAMS PREVIEW
Sydney Thunder Preview
The Thunder secured their place in the BBL|14 finals with a strong win against the Scorchers at home last week. This is a significant turnaround from last season, where they finished last with only one victory. Unfortunately, the rain-affected Sydney Smash at the SCG on Friday ended their opportunity to vie for a top-two position and a double chance in the playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Thunder remained near the top of the standings despite facing several injuries within the team. Up to six players from their original 18-man roster missed games.Β David Warner has been instrumental in providing the team with regular solid starts, scoring 346 runs in 9 innings.
Melbourne Stars Preview
After starting the season with five straight losses, the Melbourne Stars have bounced back by winning their last five games, earning an unexpected place in the BBL finals. To clinch their place, they needed to defeat top-ranked Hobart in the final regular-season game. Batting first at the MCG, the Stars posted a formidable 5-219, which paved the way for a 40-run victory over the Hurricanes.
Glenn Maxwell has been pivotal in turning the Starsβ fortunes around and proved that once again in the previous game, scoring an explosive unbeaten 76 from just 32 balls, including six sixes.Β With 297 runs in eight games and a strike rate of 194.11, Maxwell has been the teamβs standout performer this season.
Captain Marcus Stoinis has also been in excellent form, contributing 296 runs in 10 innings with a strike rate of 130.97, playing a significant role in their resurgence.
Weather Conditions
The Sydney Showground pitch is expected to offer good bounce and some early seam movement, making it a challenge for batsmen in the initial overs. Fast bowlers can take advantage of the green surface to induce swing and generate pressure.Β Batters, once set, can capitalize as the pitch tends to flatten out. Expect scores in the moderate range, as the outfield isnβt the quickest. Spin might become a factor later in the innings as the surface wears, but fast-medium bowlers with variations could be most effective overall.
The weather in Sydney will be hot and very windy in the afternoon, which could help the seam bowlers get more swing off the air.
SYT vs MLS Pitch Report
The average first innings score at the Sydney Showground is 150.Β The highest total posted here is Brisbane Heatβs 203-5 versus Sydney Thunder in the 2022-23 BBL Eliminator.Β Both teams will be looking to set a score of around 180 runs to feel secure.
Toss: To Bat
Given that this is a knockout game, we reckon both teams will look to bat first and try and put on a huge total to get ahead in the game.