Big Bash Final Preview – 2.00 am Sunday, February 17th, 2019
The Final of the 2018/19 Big Bash league arrives on Sunday. This is the end of season finale from the world of Australian T20 Cricket. In the showcase match, it will be a big rivalry showdown as well, with the Melbourne Renegades taking on the Melbourne Stars at the Marvel Stadium.
Melbourne Renegades v Melbourne Stars Odds*
Melbourne Stars 17/20
Melbourne Renegades Evens
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm)
Table of Contents
New Winner Coming
Whatever the outcome, there will be a new name on the trophy this season as both of these are looking for their maiden title in the Big Bash. The league produces some of the top T20 cricket action in the world and this is one epic showdown. There just wasn’t much to choose between them throughout the regular season really.
This season’s meetings
The Stars did come out on top in both of the regular season meetings, beating the Renegades by six and then seven wickets in their two games. The actual overall head to head between them is heavily in favour of the Stars. They have won all but four of the last fifteen meetings between the two sides.
But it was the Renegades who finished above the Stars in the final standings this season. Granted it was only by the two points. The Renegades took a W8 L6 record to finish second (behind Hobart Hurricanes) while the Stars took a W7 L7 record to finish fourth.
There was a considerable difference in the net run rate between the two of them though. The Renegades finished the season at +0.173 with the Stars completing their matches at -0.062 which was the third-worst record of the eight teams.
Semi-final showings
It was the Stars who had the tougher of the two semi-finals. They were big underdogs for their match against Hobart away from home, the latter having dominated the season with a W10 D4 record in the league. However, a superb spell by Daniel Worrall who took 4/23 really set the Stars up well. They were set 154 to win and they got there with an over and a ball to spare, Glenn Maxwell helping them across the line with an unbeaten 43.
In the second of the semi-finals the Renegades, having earned home advantage, took on the Sydney Sixers. It was a thrilling match with the Sixers putting a good score of 180 on the board. It left the Renegades needing to chase down the highest ever T20 total at home in the Big Bash. It looked as if they were struggling to reach that with them needing 38 from the final three overs with Steve O’Keefe and Aaron Finch having already departed. Dan Christian held his nerve with the bat though, firing over a match-winning boundary with a ball to spare.
Top Batsman
Where to look for the most likely man to put on the biggest score? Aaron Finch is right up there as 9/4 favourite to be the top scorer for the Renegades* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm). One of their depth players who has produced decent form has been Cameron Boyce who has been knocking the ball around well (although he stepped on his own wicket in the final over of their semi-final against the Sixers). Boyce is a big 33/1 odds option with Marcus Harris at 7/2 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm).
Over on the star-studded Stars side, it is Marcus Stoinis who is topping the list at 9/4 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm). He is most certainly not a bad option to have under your belt at all. From his eight innings during this season’s Big Bash he posted the fifth-highest tally. The four players who scored more runs than him each had played three more innings than he had. Stoinis had the second-best average score in the regular season for the Big Bash. Glenn Maxwell and Peter Handscomb are 7/2 options for the Stars behind Stoinis* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm).
Predictions
The Stars have the star power and they are the ones running with better form at the moment. They have won five of their last seven matches. They do have the batting power at the top that the Renegades are unlikely to be able to match at the end of the day. There’s Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Peter Handscomb and Adam Zampa who all were pivotal in them chasing down the all-powerful Hobart in the semifinals.
The Renegades have their threats in Aaron Finch and Dan Christian. However, they look a little less reliable and consistent with the bat than the Stars. Arugbaly their bowling attacking could keep them in this. Could it all boil down to who wins the toss?
The Marvel Stadium is a ground which has favoured run-chases in the recent seasons. 22 of the last 37 matches there have been won by the team who has taken on the run chase in the match. With the Stars coming out on top at 17/20 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on February 15th, 2019 at 8:30 pm). Whatever the outcome, it should be a thriller.
