BBL7 - Stars v Sixers Preview (Plus the Lurker's Pick and Bank)

Melbourne Stars (1-5) v Sydney Sixers (1-6) @ MCG
 
Head to Head History - Melbourne Stars 4, Sydney Sixers 2
 
Last 5 - Melbourne Stars 4, Sydney Sixers 1
 
Melbourne Stars 13-Man Squad - John Hastings (c), Ben Dunk, Jackson Coleman,James Faulkner, Peter Handscomb, Evan Gulbis, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen, Seb Gotch, Liam Bowe, Daniel Fallins, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright
 
Sydney Sixers 13-Man Squad -  Johan Botha (c), Moises Henriques, Nic Maddinson, Daniel Hughes, Joe Denly, Jordan Silk, Sean Abbott,  Peter Neville +, Daniel Sams, Ben Dwarshuis, Carlos Braithwaite, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon
 
Preview - Both the Stars and Sixers will be searching for a second straight win when they clash at the MCG tonight. Both franchises have fallen on tough times in BBL7, with the Stars and Sixers propping up the bottom of the table after making the finals last season. 
 
Big Batting Battle - Kevin Pietersen v Daniel Hughes - Both key batsmen in the Stars and Sixers line up, in Pietersen and Hughes, have had quiet campaigns until they top scored in match winning performances at their last start. Pietersen was explosive, scoring 74 from 46 balls against the Renegades, including five towering 6’s, as he looks to sign off on his four year stint in the BBL in style. Daniel Hughes really marshalled the Sixers’ chase against rivals the Thunder, finishing on 66 not out from 55 balls, after a quiet opening six games from the opening batsman. 
 
Big Bowling Battle - Jackson Coleman v Nathan Lyon - Jackson Coleman has been somewhat of a surprise packet for the Stars this season, whilst Nathan Lyon adds quality and experience to the Sixers in his second game back from the Test arena. Coleman was the Stars’ best bowler against the Renegades, taking 3/27 from his overs, including the key wickets of the in-form Tom Cooper, as well as openers Harris and Ludeman. Lyon was really tidy in his first appearance against the Thunder, taking 1/24 from his four overs with the key wicket of James Vince, and controlling the dangerous Usman Khawaja in the Powerplay.  
 
Ground Dynamic - The MCG - The MCG curator has produced some pretty flat wickets this season, with the ODI on Sunday night comfortably providing over 600 runs combined as England easily ran down Australia’s total of 304. The Stars have struggled in their two games at the MCG batting first this season, failing to score over 157, and the ground is not typically the highest scoring T20 venue with its vast expanses. I think the team batting first will be very competitive with a score of 165. 
 
THE LURKER'S PICK - Melbourne Stars "The clash for the spoon I give the home side the edge" 
 
THELURKER'S 10 UNIT BANK - (-66 Units) 

3 Units Stars to win by 1-20 runs or 1-4 wickets @ $5.50

3 Units Peter Handscomb to score 25+ runs into a Stars win @ $3.10

1.5 Units Stars high bat/double double of Maxwell/Faulkner @ $16

1.5 Units Sixers high bat/bowler double of Hughes/Dwarshish @ $20

I Unit Daniel Fallins man of the match @ $21