BBL7 - Sixers v Thunder Preview (Plus The Lurker's Pick and Bank)

Sydney Sixers (0-6) v Sydney Thunder (3-4) @ SCG
 
Head to Head History - Sydney Sixers 8, Sydney Thunder 4
 
Last 5 - Sydney Thunder 3, Sydney Sixers 2
 
Sydney Sixers 13-Man Squad -  Johan Botha (c), Nic Maddinson, Daniel Hughes, Jason Roy, Sam Billings, Jordan Silk, Sean Abbott, Stephen O'Keefe, Peter Neville +, Harry Conway, Doug Bollinger, Daniel Sams, Ben Dwarshuis, Carlos Braithwaite
 
Sydney Thunder 13-Man Squad -  Shane Watson (c), Kurtis Patterson, Callum Ferguson, Usman Khawaja, Jay Lenton, Ben Rohrer, Chris Green, Fawad Ahmed, Arjun Nair, Mitch McClenaghan, Gurinder Sandhu, Andrew Fekete, James Vince
 
Preview - The Sydney Thunder need a win to stay in finals’ contention when they visit the SCG to take on the winless Sydney Sixers. The Thunder kept their season alive with a tense 3-run victory over the Perth Scorchers in a game they nearly blew, after being in total control, with the Scorchers 4/172 in chase of the Thunder's 4/175. The Sixers remain winless despite a brave performance against the Hurricanes, losing by 5 runs at Blundstone Arena. 
 
Big Batting Battle - Moises Henriques v Usman Khawaja - Two good friends go at it here with Henriques returning for the Sixers, whilst Khawaja plays his second game of the season for the Thunder. Henriques took leave for three games for personal reasons, and the Sixers have really missed his experience and quality in the Number 4 position in a side that is really struggling for any sort of rhythm or confidence with the bat. Khawaja made an immediate and huge impact for the Thunder, whacking 85 from 51 balls, as the Thunder managed a big score against the Scorchers at Spotless Stadium.
 
Big Bowling Battle - Sean Abbott v Gurinder Sandhu - Another two State teammates face up here, with the changes of pace of seamers Sean Abbot and Grinder Sandhu. Abbott has been a bit hot and cold this BBL7, however he is a genuine wicket taker, and he was at his best against the Hurricanes in the Sixers' last game, taking 3/27 from his four overs including the key wicket of D'Arcy Short. Gurinder Sandhu is finally starting to hit his straps again, after a disappointing past eighteen months in all forms of the game. Sandhu was by far and away the Thunder’s best bowler, with match winning figures of 1/17 from 4 overs, as the Thunder barely defended their 175 against the Scorchers. 
 
Ground Dynamic - The SCG – This is the third BBL7 game at the SCG this year, and the first since the Test match between Australia and England. In both games before the New Year, the wicket looked fresh and the outfield was lightning fast, with really good batting conditions. Usually at the SCG there is one really short boundary, so expect batsmen to target that, and bowlers to try and bowl to defend the longer side of the field. 
 
THE LURKER'S PICK - Sydney Sixers 'The Sixers have inly let me down 3-4 times, so whats one more chance in the scheme of things" 
 
THE LURKERS 10 UNIT BANK (-46 Units) 

4.5 Units Sixers to win by 1-20 runs or 1-4 wickets @ $7

4 Units Sixers to win by 21-40 runs or 5-7 wickets @ $5.50

1 unit Sixers high bat/bowler double of Maddinson/Abbott @ $18

1 Units Thunder high bat /bowler double of Patterson/Mcclenaghan @ $22