The KFC T20 Big Bash League finals contention is on the line, with seven clubs still in the hunt for a semi-final berth heading into the final two rounds.

BBL|03 Stats so far:

Most runs: 262, Aaron Finch (Renegades)
Most wickets: 12 Jackson Bird (Stars) and Cameron Gannon (Heat)
Most Sixes: 14, Chris Lynn (Heat)
Most Total Boundaries (6s & 4s): 38 (28x4s + 10x6s), Luke Wright (Stars)
Highest Score: 96, Ben Dunk (Hurricanes)
Best Bowling (Innings): 4/10, Cameron Gannon (Heat)
Average attendance (current at 16 Jan): 19,810*
Total attendance (current at 16 Jan): 455,619*
*Figures do not include Hobart (Game 3) due to a no result

Perth Scorchers v Adelaide Strikers Thurs 16 Jan, WACA, 4.40pm

• The Scorchers and Strikers have already played each other this season in the New Year’s Eve match at Adelaide Oval. The Strikers won by 6 wickets with 6 balls remaining on the back of some lusty hitting by Michael Klinger (86 from 55 balls). Nathan Coulter-Nile also put on an all-round performance with 42* and 2/28 but it wasn’t enough for his Scorchers to take the points
• Race to the semi-finals: The Scorchers are currently sitting second on the ladder, but a loss to the Strikers would see them facing a must win game in their only remaining match of the tournament – the undefeated Stars at the MCG. A win for the Strikers would mean they would only need one more win from their remaining two home games (and a Stars win over the Scorchers) to take the Scorchers spot and a home semi-final
• This match is expected to mark the debut of Pat Cummins for the Scorchers. The 20-year-old has played 28 T20 matches for 40 wickets, including 11 T20Is for Australia for 16 wickets
• Johan Botha has been named back in the Strikers’ 13-player squad, having passed a fitness test on the fractured thumb he sustained in the NYE match against the Scorchers. Botha hasn’t been a big wicket-taker for the Strikers, but has successfully tied up batsmen with his team’s best economy rate (5.50) as his strike bowlers do the job at the other end
• 20-year-old batsman Travis Head could be in line to play for the Strikers for the first time this season. He has only played one T20 match, which was incidentally in a losing match to the Scorchers last season. Head has notched up two recent centuries – in the Adelaide Strikers’ trial game on Tuesday and for his premier league club last weekend

Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat Sat 18 Jan, Adelaide Oval, 1.15pm

• The last time these two sides met, the Heat got over the line on the last ball of the match. Heat 7/186 d Strikers 8/185 as Luke Pomersbach smashed 65 from 39 balls
• The Heat have a history of close finishes this season with four out of their six matches coming down to the last over. The Heat won their first match (v Scorchers with 2 balls remaining), but have since lost their other three tight matches
• Race to the semi-finals: This is a must-win match for reigning BBL|02 champions Heat, who need to win their two remaining matches to stay in semi-final contention. If they lose, a top four spot will be out of reach.
• Ryan Harris has been named in the 13-man squad for the Heat after his winning Ashes performances. Harris finished as the second leading wicket-taker for the series (22 wickets, behind fellow Queenslander Mitchell Johnson’s 37 wickets)
• This is the first day match for the Strikers at Adelaide Oval, who will be looking to turn around their home-ground form. The Strikers’ nine BBL games at Adelaide Oval have resulted in three wins – one per season

• Joe Burns has been passed fit and will resume his place in the Heat squad, while Nathan Haurtiz has been ruled out due to injury.

  Burns’ replacement Ben McDermott will retain his place in the Heat squad as replacement for Hauritz.

Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Sixers Sat 18 Jan, Etihad Stadium, 7.45pm

• Last meeting: Renegades 5/178 def Sixers 149 at the SCG
• The Sixers are yet to record a win against the Renegades in the BBL. The Sixers lost to the Renegades by 8 wickets at Etihad Stadium in the first season, which was the last loss for the Sixers before they went on to win BBL|01
• Race to the semi-finals: Everything’s on the line for the Renegades in this match. Sitting seventh on the ladder, they can still make fourth spot if they win their two remaining matches and the Heat suffers a loss. They also need the Strikers to lose two of their three remaining matches and the Hurricanes to lose both their matches. The Sixers are sitting pretty in third and could score a home semi-final with strong wins in their remaining two matches.
• This is expected to be the first match for West Indies international all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. He comes into the Renegades squad as a Replacement Overseas Player for English international Jos Buttler. Bravo has been in scintillating form, striking 106 from 81 balls against New Zealand in a ODI match last week
• The mark of a good middle-order batsman in T20 is their ability to work the strike. Steve Smith did this beautifully in his innings of 65 last night, scoring off every ball bar two – of which one was his dismissal

• The Technical Committee has approved changes to the Melbourne Renegades squad as

  Will Sheridan has been ruled out due to injury and will be replaced by Renegades’ Community Rookie Solomon Mire. Mire will be re-elevated into the Renegades’ 18-player squad and will be eligible for selection.

Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes Tues 21 Jan, MCG, 7.40pm

• ·Last meeting: Stars 6/135 d Hurricanes 8/134 at the MCG by 4 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)
• Race to the semi-finals: If the Stars win, they will be guaranteed a home semi-final. The Hurricanes need to consolidate their current fourth spot (only above the Strikers thanks to a superior net run rate) with wins in their remaining two games, knowing the Strikers have one extra game to play and could overtake them on points
• Unsurprisingly given their undefeated status, the Stars have conceded the least runs in the competition at an average of 134.5. The Strikers (136.75) and Scorchers (147.3) sit behind the Stars.
• The Stars are the only undefeated team this season, but they still have yet to win one thing – the toss
• Ben Dunk has rocketed up this season’s leading run scorers list on the back of his tournament high score of 96 last round against the Thunder. The Queensland wicketkeeper now sits fourth on most runs scored this season (231 runs) as an opening batsman for the Hurricanes and could overtake third-placed Hussey (237 runs) given the Thunder don’t play this round

Remaining Matches by Club

STRIKERS: Scorchers (A), Heat (H), Renegades (H)

HEAT: Strikers (A), Hurricanes (A)

HURRICANES: Stars (A), Heat (H)

RENEGADES: Sixers (H), Strikers (A)

STARS: Hurricanes (H), Scorchers (H)

SCORCHERS: Strikers (H), Stars (A)

SIXERS: Renegades (A), Thunder (A)

THUNDER: Sixers (H)

• About
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James Buttler

Editor at World Cricket Badger

James has been working as a journalist and broadcaster in cricket since 2006 and was an avid fan for many years before that.
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!

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