Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat BBL Predictions, Picks, Odds
/fit-in/1200x630/1675154995/sixers-vs-heat-josh-philippe.jpg?resize=1024,1024 "Sydney Sixers vs Brisbane Heat BBL Predictions, Picks, Odds")
Prediction XI
Sydney Sixers: Josh Philippe (wk), Daniel Hughes, Kurtis Patterson, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Hayden Kerr, Daniel Christian, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Steve O’Keefe, Izharulhaq Naveed
Brisbane Heat: Josh Brown, Max Bryant, Nathan McSweeney, Sam Hain, Jimmy Peirson (c/wk), Ross Whiteley, Michael Neser, James Bazley, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann
Sydney Sixers favorites against depleted Brisbane Heat to book a spot in the final
Sydney Sixers and Brisbane Heat will face off in the Challenger of the Big Bash League 2022-23. The winner of this match advances to the final against Perth Scorchers. The two teams will meet at the historic Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday 2 February.
Sydney Sixers finished second on the table, giving them another chance to reach the final after losing Qualifier to Perth Scorchers. In what was a repeat of last season’s qualifiers, they were defeated by seven wickets.
Batting first, the men in magenta struggled to get going with three wickets down for 42 in 8.1 overs. Moises Henriques then scored 58 off 43 and added an 88-run stand with Jordan Silk (47* off 34) but collapsed at the back. Defending 152, Sean Abbott reduced the opposition to 22/3 in four overs, but then they had no answers for Ashton Turner and Cameron Bancroft.
Brisbane Heat just about managed to sneak into the playoffs. They won the Eliminator against Sydney Thunder by eight runs on the DLS method after rain interrupted 6.5 overs in the second innings. Brisbane then defeated Melbourne Renegades by seven wickets in the knockout.
Xavier Bartlett went 3 for 18 in four overs, while Michael Neser picked 2 for 32. With 163, Usman Khawaja and Josh Brown (39 off 27) started with 75 runs in nine overs. Khawaja made 59 from 47 before Matt Renshaw got them over the line with an unbeaten 27 from 13.
team news
Sydney Sixers will be without Steve Smith in this match as he joins the Test squad. Daniel Hughes will open the innings alongside Josh Philippe. Moises Henriques and Jordan Silk hold the key in the middle order. Sean Abbott is in great form and leads the bowling attack. All-rounder Hayden Kerr has not been at his best and needs to step up. Steve O’Keefe and Izharulhaq Naveed will play an important role at the spin-friendly SCG.
Brisbane Heat will be badly depleted, losing Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matt Renshaw, three of whom are part of the Test squad heading to India. Max Bryant, Nathan McSweeney and Ross Whiteley are likely to replace the trio. Josh Brown, Sam Hain and Jimmy Peirson will be key in the batting unit. Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and James Bazley form the pace unit with Matthew Kuhnemann as the only spinner.
Key players
Sean Abbott is the all-time leading wicket-taker in the Big Bash. The right-arm seamer took 153 wickets in the BBL at an average of 19.62, striking every 14 balls. He also leads the bowling charts in the ongoing season with 28 wickets from 14 matches at an economy of 7.77. Abbott was excellent in the previous game and remains a key figure.
Sam Hain will be key for Brisbane Heat in the absence of experienced players. He scored 73 not out in 41 against Melbourne Stars earlier this season. The English batsman has a tremendous record in the shorter format, scoring over 2900 runs at an average of 37.5 while batting at 131. Hain has smashed 20 fifties and hundreds in the format.
