WBBL02 - Rounds 3 & 4 Preview

The second instalment of WBBL02 starts this Friday with games 9-16 being played over three days. As in the first two rounds these are effectively double-headers against the same opposition on consecutive days. Rounds 3 and 4 will be :-

Sydney Thunder v Adelaide Strikers (Friday and Saturday)
Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat (Saturday and Sunday)
Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Stars (Saturday and Sunday)
Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes (Saturday and Sunday)

The cream of the crop looks like being the Sixers v Stars clashes at Casey Fields in Cranbourne. It is rumoured that Saffer Dane van Niekerk may make her first appearance for the Sixers, alongside Perry, Healy, Kapp and McGlashan, which looks like some serious batting for the Stars to cope with, particularly if they are without England's Nat Sciver. Have to say it looks like 4 points for the Sixers, unless Meg Lanning goes mad with the bat.

Over at the WACA in Perth the Scorchers take on the Heat. Beth Mooney is due a few runs for the Heat, but with Suzie Bates and a motivated Elyse Villani in the Scorchers line up things could really get hot for the Heat. I reckon this will be another 1-1 draw.

In Sydney the Thunder entertain the Strikers. The Thunder's batting line-up looks strong with Stafanie Taylor and Harmanpreet Kaur looking in ominous form. The Strikers could be chasing plenty to try and get any points from these two encounters. Sophie Devine has been their star with the bat to date, but some of the other batsmen really need to come to the party if they are going to get anything out of these games. I'm going 2-0 to the Thunder.

And finally the Hurricanes travel to Bendigo in Victoria for their clashes with the Renegades. These are two games the Canes must look to win if they are to have any hope of a top four finish. Hayley Matthews and Georgia Redmayne looked to be striking the ball nicely and if Amy Satterthwaite and Heather Knight can get into gear then there are plenty of runs available to the Canes. The Renagades' Mols - Molly Strano and Sophie Molineux - will look to keep up their good form with the ball. On the bowling front the Canes generally look to suffocate the opposition. But again Molineux has looked in good touch, plus the Renegades have Rachel Priest, Danni Wyatt and Grace Harris all waiting to explode. Tight games are likely, but Canes to win 2-0.

MD
14/XII/16