Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars Betting Tips & Predictions

The latest Big Bash betting is making the Melbourne Stars the favourites to beat the Sydney Thunder when they play each other at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on December 29 with a start time of 1.45 pm IST.

It’s the second match of a special double-header and starts just after the Renegades v Sixers match gets underway.

Here are the best Thunder v Stars BBL betting tips ahead of the action.

Thunder to win: why is this a good bet?

As per usual, everyone thinks the Stars are the real deal. But it’s worth remembering that they’re yet to win a Big Bash title and that they’re not quite the invincible side many seem to think they are this season, either.

They shared the points against the Scorchers in a game they could easily have lost had it not been rained off, and somehow lost against the Sixers at the weekend, a game they should have won.

Of course, they’re a side packed with big names, they always are. There’s Maxwell, Stoinis, Pooran, Zampa, Coulter-Nile to name but a few.

But the Thunder have their own weapons, are arguably better as a team rather than individual stars and are above them in the table. Add the fact that Sam Billings will be available to further boost their middle order and the conclusion is this is a great chance to get with the outsiders.

Why our hot bet is so hot

We backed Nicolas Pooran last time out and were incredibly unlucky that he didn’t win.

Not only did Pooran get to a very decent score but Maxwell only overtook him with the very last ball of the innings.

Pooran’s innings was one of the best you’ll ever see in the Bash and the Stars will be keen that he comes in a bit earlier this time around so he could be promoted to Number 3 or 4.

If he carries on striking the ball like he did last time, he’ll score very quickly indeed, At a bigger price than Maxell and Stoinis, he certainly looks the bet.  It’s worth taking the chance again.

A Hundred score in the match: why is this a good bet?

• Generally a very high scoring ground.
• Lots of players on the pitch who have scored Big Bash centuries.
• Both teams have in-form batsmen.
• Several players have come pretty close to a century already this season.
• Both sides have batsmen who can strike at close to 200.

Live Betting Tip

If the Thunder are chasing a big total and start slowly, don’t rule them out getting over the line.

Not only can the likes of Cutting, Billings and Sams score incredibly quickly at the death anyway but the Stars aren’t the greatest when it comes to bowling in those death overs.

If the Thunder need anything less than 11 an over for five or six overs and still have wickets in hand, look to back them at big prices in Live Betting.

Big Bash big stats

• Stars are 8-6 ahead on the head to head.
• Usman Khawaja has scored a century in this fixture.
• Marcus Stoinis and Khawaja are the leading runscorers in this fixture.
• Adam Zampa (13) and Daniel Sams (10) are the leading wicket-takers in this fixture.
• Glenn Maxwell (156) and Callum Ferguson (146) are the third and fifth highest runscorers in the competition so far.
• The Stars won by 22 runs when they played Thunder earlier this season

Where to bet on it

So those are our Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars tips for the game. If you’re after the best online betting sites, remember to read our reviews where we tell you which bookmakers we love and why.