The Eliminator match of the Big Bash League (BBL) | 14 is set to showcase an electrifying battle between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars. Both teams will be fighting for survival, with the winner advancing to the Challenger stage and the loser being eliminated from the tournament.
Eliminator clash: Sydney Thunder vs Melbourne Stars
The Stars, captained by Marcus Stoinis, secured the fourth spot on the points table with 10 points after a challenging group stage. Despite a shaky start to their campaign, the Stars demonstrated resilience, bouncing back with key performances. In their final group-stage match ended in winning the match against Hobart Hurricanes by 40 runs. The Stars will be eager to capitalize on this Eliminator opportunity.
Led by David Warner, the Thunder claimed the third position on the points table with 12 points. Their final group-stage match against Sydney Sixers was abandoned due to rain, resulting in no outcome. Despite this, the Thunder have showcased consistent form throughout the tournament and will aim to continue their dominance as they face the Stars.
This Eliminator marks the second meeting between these two teams in BBL 14. In their earlier encounter, Sydney Thunder emerged victorious, securing an 18-run win. Melbourne Stars will be eager to turn the tables in this high-stakes clash and keep their championship hopes alive.
Match Details: BBL|14, Eliminator
- Date and Time: January 22, 8:30 am GMT/ 2:00 pm IST/ 7:30 pm local
- Venue: Sydney Showground Stadium, Sydney
Sydney Showground Stadium Pitch Report:
The Sydney Showground Stadium presents a pitch that keeps bowlers constantly involved and demands effort from batters to score runs. Early on, seamers can exploit lateral movement, while the pitch generally becomes more forgiving as the game progresses, offering batters a greater opportunity to capitalize. A notable characteristic of the surface is its spongy bounce, which benefits bowlers who can generate pace and consistently hit the deck hard. The toss could prove crucial, with the winning side likely opting to bowl first to take advantage of the favourable early conditions.
THU vs STA Dream11 Prediction Picks:
- Wicketkeeper: Sam Billings
- Batters: David Warner, Hilton Cartwright, Oliver Davies, Thomas Fraser Rogers
- All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Green
- Bowlers: Peter Siddle, Mark Steketee, Wes Agar
THU vs STA Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:
Choice 1: David Warner (c), Marcus Stoinis (vc)
Choice 2: Glenn Maxwell (c), Chris Green (vc)
Also READ: BBL|14 [Twitter reactions]: Glenn Maxwell propels Melbourne Stars into the playoffs with victory over Hobart Hurricanes
THU vs STA Dream11 Prediction Backups:
Tom Andrews, Usama Mir, Joel Paris, Tom Curran
THU vs STA Dream11 Team for today’s match (January 22, 8:30 pm GMT):
Squads:
Melbourne Stars: Sam Harper (wk), Thomas Fraser Rogers, Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Peter Handscomb, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Joel Paris, Usama Mir, Mark Steketee, Peter Siddle, Jonathan Merlo, Doug Warren, Campbell Kellaway
Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Hugh Weibgen, Matthew Gilkes, Sam Billings (wk), George Garton, Chris Green, Tom Andrews, Tanveer Sangha, Nathan McAndrew, Mohammad Hasnain, Wes Agar, Oliver Davies, Toby Gray, Blake Nikitaras