Stars vs Thunder BBL betting tips & odds – December 10, 2021

Two teams that experienced very different starts to the 2021/22 Big Bash League season will clash at the MCG this Friday night when the Melbourne Stars play host to the Sydney Thunder.

The Stars came into the campaign touted as one of the key threats to the Sydney Sixers’ title defence, but if their performance at the SCG last Sunday is anything to go by, the green half of Melbourne will be nowhere near it this summer.

Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques flayed the Stars bowlers to all corners as the Sixers posted 4/213, and then Sean Abbott and Steve O’Keefe did the damage with the ball as Glenn Maxwell and co. were rolled for a mere 61 inside 12 overs.

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Everything needs to improve for the Stars if they are to beat a Thunder outfit that kicked off BBL11 with a comfortable win over the Brisbane Heat on Monday night.

Daniel Sams (3/22) and the in-form Gurinder Sandhu (2/17) starred with the ball as the men in lime green restricted the Heat to 8/140, and Brisbane had no answer for Alex Ross (61no off 46) and Sam Billings (45no off 36) as they powered their side to a seven-wicket win with three overs to spare.

Given those contrasting performances, it is no great surprise to see punters backing the away team into $1.85 favouritism at Sportsbet.com.au, with the Stars easing out to $1.96.

Stars vs Thunder BBL11 betting predictions

Melbourne Stars top wicket-taker: Adam Zampa

Australia’s T20 World Cup hero didn’t have the best of nights against the Sixers, but we are tipping him to bounce back with a strong showing against the Thunder. The vast expanses of the MCG make a leg-spinner of Zampa’s class difficult to put away, so don’t be surprised if he jags a couple of wickets from outfield catches.

Sydney Thunder top runscorer: Alex Hales

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Thunder’s win against the Heat is that their star opener was dismissed for a second-ball duck. When he gets going, Hales is one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket, and we reckon he will take a liking to a Stars bowling attack that looks a little bit light on quality at the moment.

Match result: Sydney Thunder

Can the Stars win games with the likes of Sam Elliott and Sam Rainbird taking on key roles in the bowling attack? Probably not many. Anything can happen in the Big Bash League, and one game can only tell you so much about a team, but it is hard to side with the Melburnians after that putrid effort against the Sixers.