Comment below what you think the total aggregate score in this game will be for your chance to win the final author payout in SPORTS tokens from this post.
You can find the general rules and information on this competition here
Current burn and winnings stats as follows.
Form Guide
Introducing a playoff system similar to the IPL is definitely a good move as much as anything because it incentivises the top teams to keep playing (and winning) in order to get one of the top 2 spots and feature in this game, the qualifier. The winner goes straight through to the final while the loser gets a 2nd chance this time next week.
The Melbourne Stars had pretty much secured their place in this fixture with about 6 games still to play and the odds on them winning the tournament seemed to be getting shorter by the hour as they dispatched all comers. However, they lost their last 3 matches coming into the playoffs and with it all their momentum. Batting wise, as the stats above show, they've been struggling and their reliance on part-time slow bowlers to get the job, a tactic that was working well in mid-season is now looking a little shaky.
The Sixers meanwhile recovered from a bit of mid-season wobble to win their last 3 games including a rain-effected match against The Stars. They have been boosted by the return of Test Match stars Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon and in general it's difficult to find any weakness in their line-up. Smith, in particular, oozed class in his knock of 66 not out against the Renegades making a potentially tricky run-chase look like child's play.
Having players for the big occasion is in itself a massive advantage and both teams are stacked full of international talent. However, for The Stars, there is the added pressure of never having won this competition in the past. They came within a whisker of doing it last year before a stunning collapse cost them and in total they have appeared in 6 semi-finals and 2 finals in the competition's 9-year history without ever lifting the trophy suggesting that they carry a sizeable monkey on their backs coming into this game.
The MCG tends to play a little on the slow side and the big boundaries can make run-scoring difficult. However, that didn't stop Marcus Stoinis hitting a record 147 not out the last time these 2 teams met here in the regular season. I doubt we'll get quite that kind of run-scoring again but both sides will feel confident that if they can get around the 160 mark batting first that they have the bowlers to defend it.
**Entries for this competition close at 8:00am GMT on Friday, 31st January