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Cricket betting tips: Big Bash League

2pts Riley Meredith top Hobart Hurricanes bowler at 7/2

3pts Adelaide Strikers to beat Perth Scorchers at evens

• Big Bash: Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers
• When: Dec 31 0745 GMT
• Where: Adelaide
• TV: BT Sport

Adelaide Strikers had far too many guns for a struggling Perth Scorchers outfit on Monday and they are fancied to repeat the dose when the two sides meet again on Thursday.

Having posted 165-8 when batting first, the Strikers didn't look back as soon as Jason Roy's early cameo came to an end and the Scorchers have some serious issues to resolve, and quickly, if they are to salvage anything from a season that is already heading for disaster.

One of the biggest hitters in the competition for so long, the Scorchers are still to register a win this season and even though the arrivals of Roy and Liam Livingstone promise to beef up the top-order batting, it will take something special to save a team that appears to be on a rapid downward trajectory.

Jye Richardson apart, their bowling attack looks a shadow of its former self and as we have seen so many times before, momentum can play such a big part in these T20 leagues. The Scorchers don't have any right now.

I suspect they will continue to struggle unless Roy can work his magic at the top of the order on a consistent basis and the Strikers rate a bet here, and a decent one at 1/1, to complete the double over the Scorchers on Thursday.

As I stated in my last preview, the Strikers are far from bombproof given their batting has yet to really click this season. Nevertheless, Englishman Phil Salt came to the party on Monday while moving Alex Carey up to number three from four is a good move which should bear fruit in time.

Crucially, Rashid Khan's return to fitness means the bowling attack remains one of the best in the tournament and the likes of Peter Siddle and Wes Agar have played big roles in driving the Strikers to third in the league table.

Whether that form is enough to see the 2017/2018 winners regain their crown remains to be seen - their batting might not be good enough for that - but they are certainly in much better shape than the Scorchers right now and evens for them to register their fourth win of the campaign is very generous and must be backed accordingly.

• Big Bash: Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat
• When: Dec 30 0815 GMT
• Where: Brisbane
• TV: BT Sport

Hobart Hurricanes and Brisbane Heat renew hostilities on Wednesday, only a matter of days since the Heat opened their account for the season with a four-wicket win over the same team.

The Heat had appeared to be firmly on course for victory when cruising to 73-0 in pursuit of 149, but a familiar batting collapse left them in trouble and it required another cool hand from stand-in skipper Jimmy Peirson - ably supported by James Bazley - to get them over the line.

With regular captain and star batsman Chris Lynn still sidelined through injury, the Heat batting remains shaky; new signing Joe Denly promises to add much-needed solidity to the top four.

That recent defeat means the Hurricanes have now won three and lost two this term, suggesting they are more than capable of going close this year while evidently having enough frailties to make them vulnerable to the stronger sides in the competition.

Dawid Malan's arrival really ought to bolster an already impressive batting line-up, but too many cooks can often spoil the broth, and I've long thought this could be the case with a Hurricanes team that will surely struggle to accommodate a host of top-order batsmen when everyone is available.

In fairness, I had expected that to leave the bowling looking light, but James Faulkner has done a fine job with the new ball so far this season while Riley Meredith has genuine pace and bowls a terrific yorker at the death.

Meredith has barely put a foot wrong, picking up seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.57, and he looks worth a bet in the top Hurricanes bowler market on Wednesday given Faulkner is a major injury doubt having limped from the field in that recent clash with the Heat.

The 7/2 about Meredith looks very fair and he might be able to drive the Hurricanes back to winning ways.

In the same match, England all-rounder Lewis Gregory has to be of interest for top Heat bowler honours following his debut 3-22 on Sunday.

However, he's still entitled to be finding his feet in new surroundings and until we see more evidence that he will be the Heat's designated death bowler on a consistent basis, I'll be sitting this particular market out with a watching brief very much advised.

Posted at 1620 GMT on 29/12/20

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