With just eight games to play over this weekend there is still only one team who know they have made the WBBL06 semi-finals, and that is Meg Lanning's table-topping Melbourne Stars. Until this year they were the only team never to have made the Finals, and here they are sitting in an unassailable position at the top of the league. The question then is who will join them there?
Whilst mathematically the Renegades and the Hurricanes could still just squeak in, it is statistically almost impossible. The fight therefore for the other three slots will be between Heat, Thunder, Scorchers and Sixers, with the Strikers lurking, but with two massive games to play against teams above them (Thunder and Scorchers).
So how might the games play out? Let's have a look at each game....
STARS v HEAT
Given that the Stars are already through they might be forgiven for taking their foot off the gas and perhaps resting some of their players. You might expect English pair Brunt and Sciver to only feature in one game this weekend, but Stars still look strong in the batting department even without them. Heat have won five on the bounce, thanks largely to some inspired hitting from Laura Kimmince. But can that sustain them here? It looks doubtful.
STARS TO WIN
STRIKERS v THUNDER
Strikers have struggled this season and look destined to miss out (they also play the Scorchers to round off their season). They are a very young team, even their overseas star (Laura Wolvaardt) is only 21! Thunder's big names - Haynes and Knight - have held their batting together and you'd have to back them to do so again here
THUNDER TO WIN
CANES v SCORCHERS
Canes have struggled with the bat, with four completed innings' totals below 90. Unless Rachel Priest comes good they are unlikely to trouble the Scorchers with Sophie Devine back in their ranks, although early Scorcher wickets could make it a low-scoring thriller!
SCORCHERS TO WIN
SIXERS v RENEGADES
Sixers just clung on to end their five game losing streak against the Thunder on Wednesday, but they look a nervous team. They are jam-packed with stars, but none have really taken WBBL06 by the scruff of the neck - Healy, Perry, Gardner, Kapp, van Niekerk. But a moderate performance should be enough to beat a Renegades side who have struggled with the bat.
SIXERS TO WIN
THUNDER v CANES
If the Thunder have beaten the Strikers the day before then playing the Canes gives them an ideal opportunity to cement their place in the Finals. The momentum will be with them and the Canes could buckle.
THUNDER TO WIN
SCORCHERS V STRIKERS
The Scorchers will be the favourites to take this game out, but the Strikers might just pull off a shock win. If the Strikers' bowlers can keep a lid on the Scorchers top four, then some of the lesser known Strikers' batters might just do what they need for the win.
STRIKERS TO WIN
STARS V SIXERS
This is probably the game of the weekend with everything riding on it for the Sixers, who have an inferior run rate to those around them. The Stars might just feel that if they win this won it might keep the Sixers out of the Finals, and thereby get rid of their closest rival. Stars in-form batting line-up of Lanning, du Preez, Villani, Sutherland, and Sciver looks too hot for the Sixers to handle.
STARS TO WIN
RENEGADES V HEAT
The Heat will probably need to win this game to ensure themselves of a place in the Finals. Lose and net run rate might be required to get them through. They will know the calculations before the game starts so winning may not be the be all and end all for them. This could be the Gades' chance to sneak a cheeky win and force everyone to get their calculators out.
RENEGADES TO WIN
If this were all to play out then the top of the table would look like this
Stars 23
Thunder 16
Scorchers 14
Heat 14
Sixers 14
Net run rate would decide the second two teams to qualify for the semi-finals, with Sixers currently significantly in arrears of Heat and Scorchers.
Is this how it will pan out? Almost certainly not.......but it will be fun to see!!
Martin Davies
20/XI/20
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