BBL 13 Final, SIX vs HEA | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

Josh Brown will once again be a key player for Brisbane [X.com]

Two months of high-intense battle has come down to this moment. Sydney Sixers will take on Brisbane Heat in the final of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2023-24 on Wednesday (January 24) at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground. 

The Sixers, who earned the right to play the home finale after defeating the Heat in the first qualifier of the competition, are in for a rematch for supremacy against their Brisbane counterparts. 

---

ALSO READ

Cricket Fantasy Predictions Today | BBL 2023-24 | SIX vs HEA, Final- Cricket Exchange Fantasy Teams

---

While the Sixers have clinched the BBL title thrice in the league's history, the Heat stand a chance to reclaim the coveted prize after an 11-year wait since winning it for the first time in the 2012-13 summer. 

SIX vs HEA: Team Previews 

Sydney Sixers 

The Sixers rallied to the finale on the back of a memorable outing with the ball in the first qualifier, where Ben Dwarshuis took a fifer and helped his team defend a modest total of 152/8, which also the former champions reached due to Daniel Hughes' (42) top-order blitz and a measured fifty from skipper Moises Henriques. 

In the absence of their star overseas performer, James Vince, the Sixers will depend quite heavily on the trio of Henriques, Hughes and Josh Philippe on the batting front. While Philippe is their second-highest run-maker with 234 runs from 10 games, Henriques and Hughes are placed third and fourth with 232 and 220 runs, respectively. 

On the bowling side, Dwarshuis' five-wicket haul reinforced his impact on the Sixers' fortunes as their numero uno wicket-taker took his tally to 16 scalps. Jack Edwards (11) and Steve O'Keefe (7) will be the other two key bowlers for them.  

Brisbane Heat 

Heat endured their first hiccup of the tournament in the qualifier but managed to resurrect ground in the Challenger against the Adelaide Strikers, defeating them comprehensively by 54 runs. 

With his mammoth 140 off just 57 balls, Josh Brown simply took the sting out of the Strikers and tilted the scales decisively in his team's favour. Brown consolidated his spot as Heat's top scorer of the competition with 313 runs. 

In the absence of their key overseas men Colin Munro and Sam Billings, the Heat will look at skipper Nathan McSweeney to come out with all guns blazing. Amongst available options, McSweeney is Heat's second-highest run-getter with 189 runs from eight games. 

Bowling-wise, much will depend on the pace pairing of Xavier Bartlett and Paul Walter, two top wicket-takers for the club. While Barlett has taken 18 scalps in the campaign at just 7.12 runs an over, Walter has followed him closely with 16 wickets at an ER of 8.61.

SIX vs HEA: Match Details & Live Streaming

SIX vs HEA: SCG Pitch Report

Historically a dry surface, the SCG is expected to be at its truest in terms of pace and bounce for a BBL final. The organisers would want a relatively high-scoring spectacle for the summit clash, and thus, one can expect a surface with extra watering and rolling to be dished out. 

The Sixers and the Heat both wouldn't mind a track that offers consistent bounce and aids stroke-making. 

SIX vs HEA: Probable Playing XIs

Sydney Sixers: Daniel Hughes, Jack Edwards, Josh Philippe (wk), Moises Henriques (c), Jordan Silk, Joel Davies, Hayden Kerr, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Todd Murphy, Steve OKeefe

Brisbane Heat: Josh Brown, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Matt Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney (c), Max Bryant, Charlie Wakim, Paul Walter, Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann

SIX vs HEA: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

SIX vs HEA: Winner Prediction

The Sixers could be slight favourites for the final against the Heat with an extra bit of meat to their batting unit. They will also have the home advantage to bank on in the summit clash. 

---

ALSO READ

BBL13 | SIX vs HEA, Final- Top Captain and Vice-captain Choices

---