Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers Prediction: Scorchers won 6 off last seven games

Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers are going head to head in the 39th Match of Big Bash League at Optus Stadium, Australia on 16 Jan 2024. Scorchers were only defeated once in last seven games against the Sixers. Who will win this game of cricket?

The current 2nd place team, who are the defending champions, have secured a spot in the playoffs. However, if they lose this match, they will drop down to 3rd place. Stevie Eskinazi and Sam Whiteman, despite their recent form, are expected to open the batting for the Strikers in this game. The Scorchers' middle-order batting has been impressive, with Aaron Hardie leading the way with 296 runs and receiving support from Laurie Evans and Josh Inglis. Nick Hobson also performed well in the last game, playing a crucial role in leading his team to victory. The team's seamers, including leading wicket-taker Lance Morris, have been excellent in both the beginning and end of innings. However, the spin attack has been a weak point, with Cooper Connolly and Ashton Agar only managing to take 10 wickets between them.

Sam Whiteman, Aaron Hardie (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Laurie Evans, Stephen Eskinazi, Cooper Connolly, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Lance Morris.

The Sydney Sixers enter this match with two consecutive wins and have moved up to the 3rd position. They hope to maintain their winning streak and secure the second position to have two opportunities in the final. James Vince and Josh Philippe have performed well as the opening pair, consistently providing strong starts for the team. Vince is currently the leading run-scorer for the season. Additionally, Daniel Hughes and Jordan Silk have been reliable in the middle order, and it is crucial for at least one of them to deliver a big performance in this important match. However, the lower batting order has struggled. Moises Henriques and Jack Edwards have been unable to score big runs and provide a strong finish with the bat. On a positive note, Edwards has excelled in bowling and is the joint-highest wicket-taker along with Ben Dwarshuis. Sean Abbott has also contributed well with 6 wickets, while Steve OKeefe has 6 wickets to his name.

Josh Philippe(wk), James Vince, Daniel Hughes, Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Jack Edwards, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, Steve O' Keefe.

It is likely that the team winning the toss will choose to bat first in the upcoming match. The pitch at Perth is ideal for batting as it offers plenty of pace and bounce, allowing the batsmen to score quickly. However, the bowlers who can maintain a good line and length will also be rewarded. As the match progresses, the pitch may become uneven and challenging for the batsmen. Typically, the average first-inning score at this ground is around 180. The weather in Perth is expected to be clear with temperatures exceeding 25 degrees Celsius.

Since this is the final group-stage match for both teams and there is an opportunity to secure a place in the finals, we can anticipate a closely contested game. Considering their strong pace attack and in-form middle-order batting, the Perth Scorchers are the favorites to win. The Sydney Sixers heavily rely on their opening pair to score runs, and their failure to do so could result in the team losing. Therefore, it is advisable to bet on the Perth Scorchers for victory.