Monday, January 13

Written by Jared Timms
Hobart Hurricanes vs Perth Scorches (7:10pm AEDT)
Scorchers to Win ($1.80)

It isn’t completely dire for either team at this stage but given the position of both clubs on the ladder, it’s likely to prove a must-win fixture for the Hurricanes and Scorchers in Hobart tonight.

The Hurricanes have been one of the major disappointments of BBL 9. They have barely managed to put together a competitive performance and have only recorded three wins from eight matches. To their credit, they were right in the contest with the Thunder until the final over on Saturday, but that team has also been on the slide recently, which does not bode well for Hobart.

The Scorchers are four and four leading into this and will be full of confidence after beating the in-form Heat at home on Saturday. A win here would breathe plenty of life into their campaign, and I think that they’ll do it.

Bet now: Hurricanes vs Scorchers

Sunday, January 12

Written by Jared Timms
Adelaide Strikers vs Melbourne Renegades (3:10pm AEDT)
Khan 'Over' 1.5 Wickets ($2.20)

Two different classes of side will square off when the Adelaide Strikers host the Melbourne Renegades this afternoon.

The Strikers haven’t been the most consistent side of late, but there is no arguing that they have been far better than their winless opponents. This probably does look as the Renegades’ best chance of winning so far, but it is impossible to tip them off the back of what they’ve done this season, particularly away from home.

Bet now: Strikers vs Renegades
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Sixers (7:10pm AEDT)
Sixers to Win ($2.20)

Tonight’s top of the table clash will see the Melbourne Stars host the Sydney Sixers, in what could very well be a preview to this season’s decider.

The Stars are on the short back-up of only two days following another impressive and comfortable win over crosstown rivals the Renegades. That was their seventh win of the season and a win in this would see them into clear favouritism to win the whole thing.

Following a couple of early hiccups, the Sixers have been excellent of late. If one player has failed to fire, the bloke next to him has stood up and that has been telling in every match they have played since Christmas.

The Stars deserve favouritism, but the Sixers are over the odds in head-to-head betting and I’m happy to be with them.

Bet now: Stars vs Sixers

Saturday, January 11

Written by Jared Timms
Sydney Thunder vs Hobart Hurricanes (6:10pm AEDT)
Hurricanes to Win ($1.91)

A potentially vital match for both sides awaits the Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes on Saturday evening.

The free-falling Thunder have now lost three matches in succession and while they remain fourth in overall standings, they simply need to win if they are any chance of making it into the finals. To add insult to injury, all-rounder Chris Green has been banned from bowling after being reported for an illegal action, and they will need to find an appropriate replacement for four overs each match.  

The Hurricanes have been anything but consistent, but under the right conditions they have shown glimpses of brilliance and I think that they will get that in the west of Sydney. Happy to take them at just under even money.

Bet now: Thunder vs Hurricanes
Perth Scorchers vs Brisbane Heat (9:10pm AEDT)
Chris Jordan 'Over' 1.5 Wickets ($2.63)

An intriguing match is slated for the nation’s west later in the night and vital points are on the line between the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat.

The Scorchers have been one of the more disappointing sides of BBL 9 and have won only three of their seven matches so far. One of those did come over the Heat on the road, however and they should only be more potent in front of their parochial home crowd.

The Heat have bounced back into form recently and have fought into the playoffs picture after a slow start. Captain Chris Lynn remains the key to their success, but now with the added benefit of the legendary A.B. De Villiers in tow.

Bet now: Scorchers vs Heat

Friday, January 10

Written by Jared Timms
Melbourne Renegades vs Melbourne Stars (7:10pm AEDT)
Stars Win & Have Highest Score After 6 Overs ($2.50)

Regardless of form this tends to be a good showdown, but the Melbourne Renegades will need to pull out all the stops to record their first win of the season over crosstown rivals the Stars.

Simply put, the Renegades have been awful this season and are yet to taste a win in seven appearances. Obviously, they are no chance of defending their maiden title, but a couple of wins would go a long way towards restoring some pride and confidence.

The Stars meanwhile continue to lead the way and enter this match off the back of another impressive win over the Sydney Thunder. They are justifiable favourites to win this, but unbackable at their current price ($1.53 at publish).

Bet now: Renegades vs Stars

Thursday, January 9

Written by Jared Timms
Brisbane Heat vs Hobart Hurricanes (7:10pm AEDT)
Heat to Win ($1.75)

The Brisbane Heat and Hobart Hurricanes face another great opportunity at vital competition points when they go toe-to-toe at the Gabba tonight.

The Heat appear to be back, and their season could enjoy another enormous boost with superstar A.B. De Villiers on track to make his debut in Brisbane tonight. His record over a long period of time obviously speaks for itself and even if he needs a game or two to find his best, his presence simply cannot be understated.

The Hurricanes meanwhile snapped a two-game losing streak with a smart win over the Scorchers in Perth and will be confident of building off the result in Brisbane. D’Arcy Short fired; bringing up the first ton of the BBL season and a repeat of that effort would see his side extremely difficult to beat.

I think the Heat look well placed to deliver their suffering home fans something to cheer about.

Bet now: Heat vs Hurricanes

Wednesday, January 8

Written by Jared Timms
Adelaide Strikers vs Sydney Sixers (3:40pm AEDT)
Sixers to Win ($2.10)

For the second time in only four days, the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers will do battle, in a match that is likely to have big implications on the make-up of the top five.

The Strikers have been a model of consistency all season but have suffered two defeats in succession heading into this one. A third would be reasonably damning and would render them sitting ducks to the opponents sitting on the edge of a finals berth.

The Sixers have been doing enough to win since the beginning of the season, but their last two wins have been particularly classy and have more than underlined their prospects of winning the whole thing. They are over the odds to win again and I am happy to be with them.

Bet now: Strikers vs Sixers
Melbourne Stars vs Sydney Thunder (7:10pm AEDT)
Lamichhane 'Over' 1.5 Wickets ($2.63)

The competition-leading Stars will look to continue the Sydney Thunder’s woes when the two teams meet at the MCG tonight.

The Stars have suffered only the one defeat in BBL 9 and enter this match off the back of three-consecutive wins. Their performance against crosstown rivals the Renegades was tough, and they are fitting favourites to record another here.

The Thunder’s fall from grace continued on Monday night, this time in a rain-affected scrap with the Brisbane Heat. The was their second loss in succession and they are now in danger of dropping as low as sixth.

Sandeep Lamichhane was left out of the team last time that we tipped him, but he has been confirmed for a start tonight and I think he’ll get the most out of the MCG deck.

Bet now: Stars vs Thunder

Tuesday, January 7

Written by Jared Timms
Melbourne Renegades vs Perth Scorchers (7:10pm AEDT)
Scorchers to Win ($2)

A high calibre of cricket shouldn’t be expected when the last-placed Melbourne Renegades host the second-to-last Scorchers, but the positioning of both clubs on the ladder suggests this will be a tight contest.

The Renegades still haven’t won a game. Obviously, a successful title defence is well and truly out the window and focus now is firmly on getting a win and hopefully, building off that. They’ve gone close a couple of times and this does look their best shot to date.

The Scorchers haven’t been a whole lot better but do have two Ws to their name and will be confident of recording another. They were unlucky not to make it two in a row for the first time this season when they lost to the Hurricanes on Sunday, and they will be eager to atone in this.

The Scorchers won the first meeting between these two sides and I think that they can do it again.

Bet now: Renegades vs Scorchers

Monday, January 6

Written by Jared Timms
Sydney Thunder vs Brisbane Heat (7:10pm AEDT)
Heat to Win ($2)

An intriguing game takes us to the west of Sydney tonight and a key opportunity awaits both the Thunder and the Brisbane Heat.

The Thunder remain third in overall standings but are actually winless through their last three and enter this off the back of a disappointing loss to the Melbourne Stars. That result meant that they are now in striking zone of several opponents and a loss here would mean that they could fall as low as fifth by tomorrow.

The Heat bounced back into the winner’s stall via a thumping victory over the Hurricanes on a road, and a repeat of that effort would see them extremely difficult to beat again. Happy to take the value on offer for them here.

Bet now: Thunder vs Heat

Sunday, January 5

Written by Jared Timms
Sydney Sixers vs Adelaide Strikers (6:45pm AEDT)
Strikers to Win ($1.81)

One of the better matches of the season looks like materialising in Sydney this evening when top four sides the Sixers and Strikers attempt to strengthen their finals credentials.

The Sixers have been doing enough to get over the line more often than not, but I can’t help but think they’ve been saved by misfiring opponents, more than their own actual ability. The face one of, if not the best team in the league here and will need to produce a career-best performance.

The Strikers have been excellent and are unlucky not to boast an unbeaten record ahead of this match. Their first loss of the season came at the hands of the Sydney Thunder on New Year’s Eve, and they’ll be eager to respond here. I think they’ll prove too good.

Bet now: Sixers vs Strikers
Perth Scorchers vs Hobart Hurricanes (9:40pm AEDT)
Scorchers to Win ($1.91)

A late-night fixture for the east coast fans will take place between the Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes in the nation’s west. Neither side has been particularly convincing this season and a win here would do plenty for both confidence and their chances of finishing in the top four.

It was a lovely return to winning form for the Scorchers on New Year’s Day, but it was against an extremely disappointing Brisbane Heat outfit and I’m not sure that it was a real indication as to how well they’re going.

The Hurricanes have been going one-for-one all season and do enter this off the back of a win over the Heat as well. The key to winning remains with D’Arcy Short, and if the opener doesn’t get off to a start they tend to find it extremely difficult.

There’s $1.90 a side available at publish, and I am happy to be with the Scorchers at home.

Bet now: Scorchers vs Hurricanes

Saturday, January 4

Written by Jared Timms
Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades (7:10pm AEDT)
Steyn 'Over' 1.5 Wickets ($2.38)

The Melbourne Derby typically treats us to some of the best quality cricket each BBL season and we’re set for an interesting edition tonight.

It’s been a good start to the season for the Stars, who enter this one on top of the ladder and with an impressive 4-1 record. A tight loss to the Strikers has well and truly been forgotten, as the men in green have since beaten the Hurricanes and Thunder. They are full of confidence and carry all the momentum.

In stark contrast, the reigning champions are yet to record a win and are anchored to the bottom of the ladder, 0-5. They went close again, but ultimately lost to the Sydney Sixers on Thursday night and it is simply impossible to have any confidence in them whatsoever.

There is no value left for the Stars in head to head betting, so I’m looking elsewhere.

Bet now: Stars vs Renegades