BBL 2018-19: Match 15, Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Sixers, Match Prediction – Who will win the match?

Can the Brisbane Heat turn the tables around?

Published - 31 Dec 2018, 11:57 IST | Updated - 31 Dec 2018, 11:57 IST

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The new year will kick off with the Big Bash League extravaganza first up. A double-header is going to treat the fans on the first day of 2019. For the first of the two encounters, the Brisbane Heat will play hosts to the Sydney Sixers at the Carrara Oval in Queensland.

The Heat team is languishing right at the bottom of the points table after two consecutive loses. The Chris Lynn-led side is having severe trouble with their batting, the middle-order in particular. They were bowled out in both their previous two games which is quite embarrassing. However, with a nine-day break after their last game against Hobart Hurricanes, the side could have possibly figured out the issues and worked on the solutions.

The visitors, Sydney Sixers, started the tournament with an impressive win. But then, they seemed to have lost their way and ended up on the losing side in the next two battles. Yet, they managed to stage a comeback in their last game against the Melbourne Renegades in what was a low-scoring affair. Nevertheless, their performance wasn’t highly impressive and they have quite a few areas to work upon.

Pitch and Conditions

The only game played at Queensland this season was a standard scoring game. It isn’t easy to get going straight away and bundle up the runs. The batsmen should try to spend some time in the middle initially as shifting gears quickly seemed to be tough. Unlike in the last game, rain might not come into the equation and some sunny weather is on the forecast.

Team Combinations

Brisbane Heat

It would be a big day for the batsmen of the Heat side who haven’t lived up to the expectations thus far. However, the side hasn’t got many options to tweak around with their batting order. They have sufficient time to get used to the conditions on the Gold Coast, they should be good to go and the team will expect at least one or two of them to fire in all cylinders. The expectations on Chris Lynn will be high. James Pattinson might make his way back into the XI in place of Mark Steketee.

Predicted XI: Brendon McCullum, Max Bryant, Chris Lynn (C), Joe Burns, Sam Heazlett, Ben Cutting, Jimmy Pierson (wk), James Pattinson, Josh Lalor, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mitchell Swepson.

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers have been the better of the two sides in terms of the win/loss ledger. The last time these two sides met, Sean Abbott’s 4/11 helped skittle Brisbane for a measly 73 runs. Hence, the visiting team will have the mental advantage entering into this game. Jordan Silk will hold the key for them in the batting order. There might not be any changes in their XI from the previous game.

Predicted XI: Jack Edwards, Joe Denly, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (C), Jordan Silk, Josh Phillipe (wk), Tom Curran, Sean Abbott, Steve O’Keefe, Ben Dwarshius, Ben Manenti.