WBBL04 - R3 Preview

The opening games of WBBL04 are now well and truly behind us, and we are now getting into the meat of the competition. This is how the table looks at the moment 

and there are seven more games this weekend (see below), to be followed by another 10 games before Christmas - 29 of the 56 league games will then have been played.

This weekend's games
Stars v Scorchers

Strikers v Thunder

Hurricanes v Sixers

Stars v Scorchers

Thunder v Strikers

Hurricanes v Sixers

Renegades v Heat

After a disastrous opening round loss to the unfancied Stars, Sixers got their WBBL04 on track with convincing wins over much more fancied opponents, Scorchers and Thunder, in R2. R3 sees them facing Hurricanes twice at their home at the Blundstone Arena. Canes, probably without Hayley Matthews (now confirmed), are likely to struggle to contain Sixers' batting line-up, and there could be some big scores on the cards. Sixers are likely to take all four points.

In another double-header Stars entertain the Scorchers twice at home at Casey Fields. Scorchers, currently bottom of the ladder, would have been desperate to have Meg Lanning back in their line-up, after she missed the last two games with a back niggle, but she is out again this weekend too. Stars are flying high with a 2/3 record so far, but Scorchers might just clip their wings for them this weekend. Both these games are likely to be high scoring, with one stand-out performance swaying it one way or the other.

The third double-header is an intriguing back-to-back between Strikers and Thunder, with both sides away from home at the Blundstone Arena. Both these games could go right to the wire, and I wouldn't be surprised if honours were even after the two games have been played. A big innings from Harmanpreet Kaur (Thunder) or Sophie Devine (Strikers) could well be the deciding factor.

And finally Gades take on Heat at Geelong, south west of Melbourne. I'm backing Danni Wyatt and Sophie Molineux and the rest of the girls in red to take the two points to keep themselves in contention at the top of the table. Gades true status in the competition may be shown next week when they have back-to-back games with Scorchers at the WACA. 

Martin Davies
12/XII/18