Heat v Strikers BBL best bets & multi tips – Friday 23/12/2022

BBL 12 continues this Friday night at the Gabba with the Brisbane Heat hosting the high-flying Adelaide Strikers.

The Heat have had a horrible start to their BBL 12 campaign with back-to-back losses to the Melbourne Renegades. Meanwhile, the Strikers have been in red-hot form to start their season, with wins over both the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers. The Heat will need to be on high alert to avoid being embarrassed by the Strikers, as they did to the Thunder a week ago.

The Heat have already struggled this season with their opening batting partnership, as well as their strike bowlers, and have been forced to make changes to their side early and often. Changes could be expected again for Friday’s clash. However, it is unlikely the Strikers will make any alterations to a side that has been so dominant this BBL.

Adelaide are incredible odds to win this match given the versatility of their side and the type of pitch that can be expected following the most recent Test match at the Gabba. The Strikers can win whether they bowl first or bat, and have both the batting and bowling lineups to take full advantage of what the Gabba will offer. The Strikers are all but certainly going to win this match, paying $1.60 with BetOnline.

Matthew Short has built on his somewhat successful start to his Big Bash League career by beginning the season as the highest runscorer of the competition. The big right-handed opening batter has combined sheer power and 360-degree scoring ability with great touch and batting smarts to demolish some very talented bowling attacks. While the Heat have talent in their lineup, they have failed to show an ability to stop someone in the type of form Short is in. Look for the powerful opener to continue his great run of form and be the highest runscorer for the Strikers in this match ($3.75).

Henry Thornton has been the clear standout for the Strikers with ball in hand this season, and while he will also be suited to bowling at the Gabba, he may not be the most likely to take wickets. The Heat have already shown this BBL that their weakness is against spin bowlers. Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman have done the most damage to the Heat this season, and they are not in the same class as Rashid Khan. The Afghani star is the second-best T20 bowler in the world, and one of the greatest of all time in the BBL. He will be the Heat’s biggest concern on Friday night and should take the most wickets for the Strikers ($3.20).

Key matchup: Matthew Short vs Michael Neser

To start his BBL 12 season, Matt Short has already demolished bowling attacks featuring Sean Abbott, Daniel Sams and Fazalhaq Farooqi. The Heat will need Michael Neser on-song to give them any chance of nullifying the impact of Short. The Adelaide slogger has shown that it doesn’t matter if the ball comes from the right or left hand, or what variation is bowled, he can dominate any T20 bowler in the league. However, Neser is a more ‘traditional’ bowler in his line and length and is more selective with his variations. Neser’s predictability may play into Short’s hands; however, it could equally be his downfall.

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