MLS vs PER Match Preview
The Melbourne Stars won their previous match thanks to a brilliant century from Joe Clarke. He has been their best batter so far and he certainly has the capability to consistently score aggressively. The batting around him is a bit of a concern.
Thomas Rogers, Beau Webster, Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Stoinis, and Nick Larkin form a dangerous batting lineup but not necessarily the best one. Webster has the capability to hit big sixes but is still unproven at this level. Stoinis is not batting at his preferred position where he has been so good for the Melbourne Stars and both Cartwright + Larkin seem to be trending downward in their careers.
The bowling is quite dependent on Adam Zampa with all-rounders needing to chip-in regularly.
There were a lot of positives for the Perth Scorchers in the previous match to consider. Jhye Richardson picked up three wickets and was close to his best. He is someone that could play a major role in the matches to follow. The rest of the bowling unit was okay without being at its best with Tye and Agar among the more expensive on the night.
During the batting stint, Faf du Plessis got off to a flyer and did his job at the top of the order. Adam Lyth impressed in his short stay but he needs to start delivering very soon. Josh Inglis and Ashton Turner are the experienced players in the middle that will have the role of finishing chases for the Scorchers.
Weather Report
The conditions in Melbourne are ideal for cricket. The sun is expected to shine throughout the day and there is no threat of rain.
Pitch Report
The pitch at the Junction Oval is usually flat but it does not have the pace that we see at the MCG. The bounce is also a bit lower. This can make things a bit easier for the batters but accurate spinners can also thrive.
We think a score of around 160-170 should be seen as par.
Notable stats
Jhye Richardson Returning To His Best
Jhye Richardson has started BBL 12 brilliantly. He has picked up seven wickets in the eight overs he has bowled so far at a very good economy rate. His ability to pick early wickets will make him a threat every time he takes the field.
Team News
Both teams have not reported any injury news and are expected to play the same lineup.
MLS vs PER Probable 11
MLS Playing 11
- Joe Clarke (Wk)
- Thomas Rogers
- Beau Webster
- Marcus Stoinis
- Hilton Cartwright
- Nick Larkin
- Luke Wood
- Campbell Kellaway
- Nathan Coulter-Nile
- Trent Boult
- Adam Zampa (C)
PER Playing 11
- Adam Lyth
- Faf du Plessis
- Nick Hobson
- Josh Inglis (Wk)
- Ashton Turner (C)
- Aaron Hardie
- Ashton Agar
- Jhye Richardson
- Andrew Tye
- Jason Behrendorff
- Peter Hatzglou
Dream11 Prediction
The Perth Scorchers are clearly the better team in this contest. They have a decent batting lineup with a fair bit of depth and power. The real advantage that they have is in their bowling quality. The Stars have some brilliant individuals that will always make them dangerous but we can't see them consistently challenging the top teams in BBL 12.
Top Picks
Jhye Richardson - He should be the first person in your Dream11 team in current form. The value of a wicket-taking bowler is massive and the bonuses can add up very quickly as well.
Ashton Turner - A quiet start to the season has not dampened our enthusiasm for Turner. He is not going to be very highly owned and will be a slight differentiator. With the ability hit sixes at will and score centuries in this format, it is worth taking a chance on him.
MLS vs PER Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: J Clarke, J Inglis
Batters: F du Plessis, A Lyth, A Turner (VC)
All-rounders: M Stoinis, B Webster, A Hardie
Bowlers: T Boult, A Zampa, J Richardson (C)
