Big Bash League 2019 Match 28, Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

Knockout places will be keenly contested on Wednesday, 8 January as Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder clash at the MCG.

The Stars have, unlike their cross-town rivals Melbourne Renegades, had a fine campaign so far, winning five of their six matches to sit atop the eight-team table. Their only loss so far came to the Adelaide Strikers, and creditably, they put it behind them at the first time of asking, going on to post wins against Hobart Hurricanes, Thunder and Renegades thereafter.

Thunder, meanwhile, have a lot more to be concerned about. They began their campaign well, with consecutive victories against Brisbane Heat and the Renegades, but they then embarked on a run of losses, winning just one of four matches. It’s a return that has left them at fourth spot in the table with seven points, one above Heat who have a game in hand.

However, Thunder can take encouragement for how they played when these two teams last week. On that occasion, the Stars emerged victorious, but Thunder, having been restricted to 142/7 batting first, made a right fist of its defence, and the Stars only sneaked across the line by three wickets with two balls to spare.

Thunder will hope for more of that sort of form, and if they can somehow get a win here, they will be able to revive their campaign, which has gone off the boil a bit in the new year.

Head to head

There have been 11 clashes between the Stars and Thunder over the years. Thunder edge the Stars on this count, with six wins to five. Can the Stars draw level?

Key players

Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars): Stoinis has been the standout batsman so far this BBL, with 281 runs in six matches, at a stunning average of 70.25. He will be the biggest threat to the Thunder bowlers, as he was the last time he faced them, when he scored a match-winning half-century.

Daniel Sams (Sydney Thunder): If the Stars have the best batsman in the league, Thunder possess the best bowler. Sams has returned 14 wickets in his seven matches so far, the highest in the league, at an average of 13.28 and a fine economy of 7.97. The clash between him and Stoinis will be one to watch out for.

Likely XIs

Melbourne Stars: Nic Maddinson, Marcus Stoinis, Nick Larkin, Glenn Maxwell (c), Peter Handscomb (wk), Ben Dunk, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Clint Hinchcliffe, Adam Zampa, Haris Rauf, Sandeep Lamichhane

Sydney Thunder: Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Chris Morris, Daniel Sams, Alex Ross, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Arjun Nair, Chris Tremain, Brendan Doggett

Prediction

Melbourne Stars to claim win to cement top spot.