Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

SIX vs THU Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report: BBL 2021/22 Match 49 | SIX vs THU Dream11 Prediction Today | Sixers vs Thunder Key Players | SCG Pitch Report

BBL 11 is in need of a thrilling match, and this one could be it. Who knows, this edition of the Sydney Smash could be a preview of the BBL 11 Final to be held later this month, with both sides sitting pretty in the top five.

But that doesn’t mean this match doesn’t have any importance. Just four points separate third-place Sydney Sixers and second-place Sydney Thunder at the moment, and the winner today takes a huge step towards an all-important top-two finish.

Sixers beat Thunder earlier this season, before the Thunder embarked on a brilliant six-match winning streak. That came to an end last game vs Hurricanes, but the men in green will want to use that defeat as a little wake up call before the playoffs.

For the Sixers, they will be aiming to improve on their performances. They have been a little up-and-down of late, and while they beat Renegades comfortably last match, they still have work to do regarding losing clumps of wickets early in their innings.

This match has the makings for a classic, and here’s hoping it delivers.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sydney Sixers:

• Incredibly, Josh Philippe has scored three ducks in his last four innings. He has a poor record vs Thunder (7 inns, 121 runs, avg. 17.29, SR 142.35), but is capable of turning this around at a ground he enjoys batting at (20 inns, 568 runs, avg. 33.41, SR 141.65).
• Daniel Hughes loves playing against the Thunder. He has the most runs of any Sixers player against them, with 369 runs in 12 innings at an average of 46.13 and strike rate of 128.13. He smashed a 26-ball 50 against them earlier this season.
• Dan Christian was player of the match vs Thunder earlier this season with a superb 17-ball 41*. Since joining the Sixers last season, Christian has smashed 77 runs vs Thunder without dismissal at a strike rate of 202.63.
• Sean Abbott has taken the most wickets of any Sixers player against Thunder. The seamer has taken 16 wickets in 13 matches against them at an average of 24.25 and economy rate of 8.59.
• Abbott, by far, has the most wickets of any bowler in T20s at the SCG. He has taken 58 wickets in just 32 matches on this ground at an average of 18.29 and strike rate of 13.03.
• Ben Dwarshuis took a five-wicket haul in his last match, vs Renegades. He has 10 wickets in 10 matches vs Thunder, as well as the second-most T20 wickets at the SCG (32 wickets in 28 matches, SR 17).
• Hayden Kerr remains the Sixers’ top wicket-taker in BBL 11, with 17 scalps in 11 matches (avg. 11.41, SR 9.8). He took 3/29 vs Thunder earlier this season.

Sydney Thunder:

• Alex Hales is in terrific touch now after a slow start to the season. He has smashed 181 runs in his last three innings at a strike rate of 181.18.
• Hales has struck scores of 89 and 32 in his two innings at SCG. He has struck 210 runs in five innings vs Sixers, including a brilliant century last season.
• Jason Sangha played nicely against Sixers earlier this season (47 off 30 balls). He is the second-highest run-scorer in BBL 11 with 360 runs in nine innings at an average of 60 and strike rate of 134.83.
• Daniel Sams has taken 11 wickets in just six matches vs Sixers at an average of 11.82 and economy rate of 7.36. He also has a half-century in six innings with the bat, and he will be key here after scoring 98* a few matches ago vs Renegades.
• Gurinder Sandhu is conceding just 6.58 runs per over this season, with 12 wickets in eight matches. However, he has a poor record vs Sixers, with just four wickets in nine innings at an average of 50. Nathan McAndrew has an even worse record vs Sixers, with just one wicket in six innings at an average of 204.
• Tanveer Sangha has taken 12 wickets in nine matches in BBL at an average of 17.66 and economy rate of 6.95. Muhammad Hasnain has seven scalps in four matches this season.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 20, Sixers 13, Thunder 7.
• Sixers have won six out of eight matches vs Thunder at the SCG.
• Sixers and Thunder both have won two out of the last four matches against each other.

Possible Playing 11

Sydney Sixers have named their squad for this match. Steve O’Keefe is back from a hand injury, and will likely replace impressive off-spinner Todd Murphy.

Jordan Silk is also in the squad, but it remains to be seen if he plays as he has a niggle.

Sydney Sixers: 1. Josh Philippe (wk), 2. Jack Edwards, 3. Daniel Hughes, 4. Moises Henriques (c), 5. Dan Christian, 6. Shadab Khan, 7. Sean Abbott, 8. Hayden Kerr, 9. Ben Dwarshuis, 10. Jackson Bird, 11. Steve O’Keefe

Chris Green is set to return for the Sydney Thunder after completing his COVID isolation period.

Sydney Thunder: 1. Alex Hales, 2. Matthew Gilkes, 3. Jason Sangha, 4. Daniel Sams, 5. Oliver Davies, 6. Ben Cutting, 7. Baxter Holt (wk), 8. Nathan McAndrew/Gurinder Sandhu, 9. Chris Green (c), 10. Tanveer Sangha, 11. Muhammad Hasnain

SCG Pitch Report and Weather

There have been four matches at the SCG so far this season. The first two matches saw first innings scores of 213 (by Sixers and Hurricanes) followed by 147 by Strikers and 105 by Heat. The team batting first has won two of the four matches so far in BBL 11.

There is rain forecast in Sydney today, with a strong chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Josh Philippe
• Batsmen: Alex Hales, Jason Sangha
• All-rounders: Dan Christian, Sean Abbott, Daniel Sams
• Bowlers: Muhammad Hasnain, Ben Dwarshuis

Match Prediction

Sixers start as favourites at home, but Thunder look in better form. The weather could play a key factor, so the chasing team should benefit.