BBL 7, Game 18: Brisbane Heat vs Perth Scorchers – Match Predictions

This is going to be a mouth-watering contest as both the teams are quite strong and have been in good form in the tournament. While Perth Scorchers are right at the top of the points table winning all their games, Heat are at no. 4 with 3 wins in 5 games. While Heat’s campaign has been a bit of a roller coaster ride so far and at times they have been poor as well in the tournament, there is no denying that on their day they can thrash any opposition.

The Scorchers look a very, very settled bowling side and they have hardly been troubled in any of their games. While bowling has done the trick for them on most occasions, their batting clicked as well in the last game as Perth chased down a target of 168 fairly easily. They will back themselves to make it five in a row here, but Heat might be their toughest challenge.

Here’s what we, at CricTracker predict will be the final result-

Scenario 1: Brisbane Heat win the toss

Toss Prediction: Heat decide to bat first

First Innings Prediction: 180-190

Result Prediction: Brisbane Heat win by 20 runs

Scenario 2: Perth Scorchers win the toss

Toss Prediction: Scorchers opt to bat first

First Innings Prediction: 140-150

Result Prediction: Brisbane Heat win by 6 wickets

Head to Head Record

Total Matches Played – 8, Brisbane Heat won – 3, Perth Scorchers won – 5, No Result/Tied – 0

Brisbane Heat

The Brisbane Heat changed their batting order in the last game and got the “Bash Brothers” to open the batting and the move turned out to be a master stroke as they thrashed the Melbourne Stars’ bowling line up to all corners of MCG. They are very much capable of doing the same to the Scorchers bowling as well. Chris Lynn, in particular, will be the danger man because he likes it when there is more pace on the ball and against the Scorchers, he will have plenty of pace to work with.

Brendan McCullum will be very satisfied with the performance of his bowlers as well in the last game as the managed to restrict the explosive Stars’ batting below the 150-run mark on an easy paced MCG pitch. Yasir Shah has been a great replacement for Shadab Khan and the other leggie Mitchell Swepson has been at the top of his game as well.

Predicted XI: Chris Lynn, Brendan McCullum (C), Joe Burns, Jimmy Peirson (WK), Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Brendan Doggett, Mitchell Swepson, Mark Steketee, Yasir Shah, Cameron Gannon

Perth Scorchers

The Scorchers think tank would be delighted to see the way the veteran Michael Klinger batted at the top of the order in the last game. The 37-year-old opener who is going through some tragedy in his personal life at the moment showed tremendous mental toughness and application as he scored unbeaten 83 runs to see off a fairly decent chase for the Scorchers.

The Scorchers will want a similar sort of approach from Klinger again. If he bats deep into the innings, the other players can bat around him and can play with freedom to propel the Scorchers to a big score.

Predicted XI: David Willey, Michael Klinger, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Turner, Tim David, Adam Voges (C), Josh Inglis, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Mitchell Johnson, James Muirhead

We believe that the Brisbane Heat will emerge victorious against the Perth Scorchers.