Deadline: January 18, 2020 at 10:10 AM IST
Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Pitch report
The average first and second innings scores at the Melbourne Cricket Ground read 169 and 155 respectively. The Stars have won all the matches here, once while defending a target and twice while chasing. The highest total registered is 219 for 1, thanks to Marcus Stoinis’ magnificent innings of 147* including 13 fours and 8 sixes. It is an out-an-out pitch for the batsmen to go all guns blazing.
Fantasy team
We have opted for a fantasy team on the basis of players’ impact, recent performances, and credit points.
You can also check players’ performances in the last 5 matches. Tap on the players’ images to get the data while making your fantasy team.
Wicketkeeper: Josh Inglis
Batsmen: Liam Livingstone, Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh (vc), Marcus Stoinis (c)
Bowlers: Fawad Ahmed, Sandeep Lamichhane, Jhye Richardson, Haris Rauf
NOTE: Pick your fantasy cricket team wisely.
Power players
The second-highest run-scorer of the season is as many as 161 runs behind Marcus Stoinis. All this despite being dismissed for a duck once. He does not want to throw away his wicket, and once he is set, he fires on all cylinders. There aren’t many players who have been as good as Stoinis in fantasy cricket this season.
Mitchell Marsh has failed only once in his last 6 innings, with highest scores of 93* and 48. When he failed with the bat, he didn’t disappoint the fantasy players who picked him: he has taken 4 wickets in the last 5 matches and, more importantly, looked threatening.
Glenn Maxwell‘s last 5 innings read 1, 40*, 59*, 83*, 5*. Although he didn’t get to bat in the previous match, he made amends with the ball, taking the all-important wicket of Josh Inglis.
Haris Rauf is the second-highest wicket-taker of the season. He is yet to go wicketless this season. He takes most of his wickets at the death when the batsmen try to up the ante.
Highest run-scorers
Marcus Stoinis: Runs 517 | SR 134 | 100×1 | 50×4
Mitchell Marsh: Runs 354 | SR 152 | 50×2
Glenn Maxwell: Runs 316 | SR 171 | 50×3
Josh Inglis: Runs 312 | SR 159 | 50×3
Liam Livingstone: Runs 230 | SR 149 | 50×2
Cameron Bancroft: Runs 211 | SR 120 | 50×2
Highest wicket-takers
Haris Rauf: Wickets 16 | Economy 6.8
Sandeep Lamichhane: Wickets 11 | Economy 7.3
Jhye Richardson: Wickets 13 | Economy 7.3
Fawad Ahmed: Wickets 12 | Economy 7
Chris Jordan: Wickets 11 | Economy 9
Match prediction
The previous contest between the Stars and Scorchers was one-sided. Riding on Jackson Coleman’s three-wicket haul, the Stars skittled out the Scorchers to a paltry score of 86. Marcus Stoinis remained unbeaten on 39 and wrapped the chase in 12 overs.
The recent forms put the Stars ahead in the race: they have won their last 7 matches, while the Scorchers have been blowing hot and cold.
Probable XIs
Stars: Hilton Cartwright, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dunk, Seb Gotch (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Nick Larkin, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Daniel Worrall, Jackson Coleman, Haris Rauf, Sandeep Lamichhane
Scorchers: Josh Inglis (wk), Liam Livingstone, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh (c), Cameron Bancroft, Tim David, Chris Morgan, Chris Jordan, Jhye Richardson, Joel Paris, Fawad Ahmed
Also, get to know the tips & tricks on how to play fantasy cricket.