Friday night at the Gabba features an early season heavyweight clash as the Brisbane Heat look to get on the board against a Perth Scorchers side coming in with confidence after an opening win. Brisbane have firepower and a point to prove after one slipped away, while Perth arrive looking every bit like a team determined to return straight to contender status.
BBL15 Heat vs Scorchers betting odds
Gabba, Friday 19 December, 7.15pm AEDT
Brisbane heat
Team: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Spencer Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Colin Munro, Michael Neser, Oli Patterson, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth
The Heat opened their season with a 14-point loss to the Renegades in a game where they were forced to chase some serious scoring. Melbourne posted 212 for 5, highlighted by Tim Seifert’s 102, putting pressure on Brisbane from the jump. Brisbane’s response had bright spots, with Colin Munro making 55 and Jimmy Peirson 50, but they finished 198 for 8 and couldn’t quite get the big blows at the death to complete the chase.
The bigger topic of conversation was the ball. Shaheen Shah Afridi endured a nightmarish BBL debut, conceding 43 from 2.4 overs and being taken out of the attack after delivering two full toss with no balls in the same over. The upside for Brisbane is that the Gabba would suit him much better than Marvel, and they also welcome Matt Kuhnemann back into the squad after a side push, adding a control option in the middle overs.
Perth Scorchers
Selection: Mitch Marsh, Ashton Agar, Finn Allen, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Laurie Evans, Sam Fanning, Aaron Hardie, Nick Hobson, Josh Inglis, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner
Perth started BBL15 with a win in the season opener, trailing the Sixers by five wickets in a rain-affected 11 overs per side match. The Scorchers held Sydney to 113 for 5 and then chased down 117 with a ball to spare, with Cooper Connolly starring with 59 and Ashton Turner finishing the job late. It was a classic Perth chase, absorb the early chaos and stay calm when the game gets messy.
The Scorchers have also been boosted by the inclusion of Jhye Richardson in their matchday squad after being added to the Test squad, giving Perth a major wicket threat to pair with their new look pace group. With Marsh anchoring the top spot and Connolly in early form, Perth will again bolster their ability to adapt on the fly, especially against a Heat attack that will be desperate to tighten up its execution after leaking heavily in the opener.
Match prediction
This constitutes a fast-paced game where the early overs decide a lot. Brisbane at the Gabba can overwhelm teams if their quick movements hit the pitch hard and keep the ball out of the slot. The question is whether the Heat can reset after a rough opener with the ball and whether Shaheen can turn the page quickly. If Brisbane can win the powerplay and keep Perth to singles through the middle, they will give themselves a real chance.
However, Perth looks a bit quieter now. They already have a win on the board, Connolly looks in good form and Richardson’s team boost tilts the bowling match their way. Brisbane should be more competitive at home, but Scorchers are in a tight spot, with their deeper pace options and calmer late-innings batting likely to be the difference.
Shooters to win
$1.83 (1.5 units)
BBL Stars vs Hurricanes Prop Bet
Mitch Marsh scoring over 30 points is a strong player on Friday night given his history against Brisbane and at the Gabba. He has absolutely dominated the Heat throughout his career, with 467 runs from just 10 matches at a huge average of 77.83, consistently punishing their bowling attacks. Add to that his record at the Gabba, where he averages 50.0 over three innings, and this makes for a favorable matchup on a ground that rewards power and clean ball striking.
Mitch Marsh 30+ running
$1.98
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