Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

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So, after 59 games in the ninth edition of BBL, the top two sides will contest the Final.

Unfortunately, and worryingly for Cricket Australia, the match is under a huge rain threat. The possibility of a full game is next to zero, with both Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars required to stay as focused as possible in case there is a shortened game.

The Sydney weather hurts the Stars, who are desperate to overcome their woes in BBL Finals. Despite finishing first in the league stage, their loss in the Qualifier last week meant that they lost the right to host the Final, as well as winning the trophy if there is a no result.

So, it will go to Sydney Sixers should there be a no result.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• However, one can hope that there will be a result. Key to it will be Marcus Stoinis, who made Sydney Thunder pay last game for a dropped catch early in his innings of 84.
• Stoinis, the best player of BBL09, went past D’Arcy Short to register the most runs in a single BBL season (currently 695). Also, Stoinis scored 147* (79) and 62 (37) vs Sixers in the regular season.
• 5-over game? This means that Glenn Maxwell could open the batting. He has the most runs in Stars-Sixers matches (427, avg. 42.70).
• Moises Henriques has been superb vs Stars in BBL09: 41 (25) and 72 (31).
• Josh Philippe’s last three scores: 61 (42), 52* (43) and 34 (28). In fact, his 34 vs Stars last week was the highest score of anyone in the game.
• Nick Larkin was superb vs Thunder last game (83*). But, it remains to be seen if he and Steve Smith get an extended chance if it’s a shortened game, as they are more strokeplayers than power hitters.
• Nathan Coulter-Nile is another player the Stars could promote up the order in a rain-affected game. He can hit the ball long. Also, he is coming off 2/29 last game vs Thunder.
• Ben Dwarshuis has the most wickets in Sixers-Stars games (13).
• Haris Rauf is having a time to remember. He sits fourth in the BBL09 wicket-taking list with 20 in just nine games played.
• Adam Zampa has the second-most wickets for Stars this season (18), two behind Haris. Zampa has eight wickets in his last three games, including 3/21 vs Sixers last week.
• Sean Abbott is a prominent wicket-taker in BBL cricket. He has taken 14 wickets in six games this season, including 3/23 vs Stars last week.
• Steve O’Keefe was man-of-the-match in the Qualifier. He took 2/22, and dismissed Glenn Maxwell at a key stage.

Head-to-Head:

• Matches 13, Sixers 6, Stars 7.
• This season: Sixers 2, Stars 1.
• It is locked up at 3-3 in six games between the teams at SCG.

Key to a Sydney Sixers win

In what’s likely to be a shortened game (if any), getting the better of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell could be what gets the Sixers over the line. The Stars often rely on these two for power, and if the Sixers’ balanced attack can get the better of them, they have one hand on the Title.

However, their power game with the bat will be tested. The Stars have a quality attack of their own, and the Sixers need to overcome this. The likes of Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques will be crucial to this, along with James Vince, who has shown ability to score quickly in BBL09.

Key to a Melbourne Stars win

Plenty rests on Stoinis and Maxwell. However, who else can make a contribution? Nic Maddinson, who has struggled in BBL09, played some wonderful knocks at the SCG during his time with Sixers. He and the likes of Nick Larkin need to take the pressure off their two big guns.

Also, can the Stars’ bowling attack limit the Sixers’ boundaries? If so, they can get a real foothold in the game. Remember, they didn’t concede a single boundary in the final eight overs of the Qualifier last Friday, so another big effort is needed here.

Possible Playing 11

Jonathan Merlo comes into the Stars’ 13-man squad for Dilbar Hussain. However, they will likely stick with the same XI that beat Thunder, should they stick with out-of-form Nic Maddinson.

Melbourne Stars: 1. Nic Maddinson, 2. Marcus Stoinis, 3. Nick Larkin, 4. Glenn Maxwell (c), 5. Peter Handscomb, 6. Seb Gotch (wk), 7. Nathan Coulter-Nile, 8. Clint Hinchliffe, 9. Adam Zampa, 10. Haris Rauf, 11. Daniel Worrall

Sydney Sixers have named an unchanged 13-man squad from their win vs Stars in the Qualifier eight days ago.

Sydney Sixers: 1. Josh Philippe (wk), 2. James Vince, 3. Steve Smith, 4. Moises Henriques (c), 5. Daniel Hughes, 6. Jordan Silk, 7. Sean Abbott, 8. Ben Dwarshuis, 9. Steve O’Keefe, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Sydney Weather Forecast and Pitch Report

Sydney has copped plenty of rain in the past 24-36 hours. It will continue over the next 48-72 hours with even heavier rains forecast. So, getting a result in this game is of hope rather than expectation.

It remains to be seen how the pitch behaves if there is play. With it being under covers for much of the last few days, there could be some zip and carry off the deck.

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Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

We will be very lucky to see a result. If there is a game, it is likely to be anywhere between a 5 and 10 over game, where the power players from both sides become crucial.

It can be argued Sixers have more depth than Stars, but if Stoinis and Maxwell fire, the Stars could break their BBL duck. If Stoinis and Maxwell are contained, Sixers could go on and get the win.

Thanks for reading!

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