SYD vs BH Challenger Match Prediction

SYD vs BH Team Previews

Sydney Sixers

No batter has had a massive short-term impact like Steve Smith with the Sixers. In just five BBL games, Smith knocked up 346 runs (including two centuries), and it’s a shame we can’t see him face the Heat and possibly the Scorchers.

Still, there’s a lot to like about this Sixers squad, including bowler Sean Abbott and batters Jordan Silk and Moises Henriques. Abbott (28 total wickets) is crucial to the team, and was the only wicket-taker in the loss to the Scorchers, which might explain how Perth rolled all over them. Abbott’s 3/25 was a plus, but we’ve got to see better bowling from Kerr and O’Keefe.

With Smith gone, the Sixers will look to replacement Daniel Hughes to help fill in the runs, although he’s likely to be a bit rusty after barely playing in the BBL this season. Silk is the batter to watch, as he’s the team’s top scorer with 353 and the most reliable. He’s yet to hit a half-century, but this game could be it.

Henriques and Patterson have been solid batters, but whether the Sixers get an easy win depends on opener Josh Philippe. Although he had one nice half-century against Perth this season, Philippe’s form has been erratic and he’s failed to put together a dependable batting effort, as his last four games have combined for just 20 runs.

Brisbane Heat

The Heat did well to beat a tough Renegades team with seven balls remaining, 3/164, but a lot of the credit went largely to the three batters who’ll be absent during the Challenger.

Khawaja (59), Labuschagne (23), and Renshaw (27*) were all huge in the victory, and it’s going to be interesting to see how the Heat manages without these stars. There is some good news, as Josh Brown, Sam Hain, and Jimmy Peirson have all been batting well lately, with Peirson especially becoming much better this season with 324 total runs.

Brisbane will bring in Nathan McSweeney, Max Bryant, and Sam Heazlett to replace the Aussie batters heading to India, but it’s probably McSweeney that Sydney will have to watch, as he’s a big hitter despite not playing much BBL this season.

The Brisbane bowlers can be tricky to face, as both Michael Neser (24 total wickets) and James Bazley (16) have been in great form, although it’s often these two having to save the day, and Bazley can sometimes either take one or no wickets.