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MELBOURNE S VS. BRISBANE H: AUSTRALIAN T20 LEAGUE, MATCH 2 | MATCH PREDICTION AND FANTASY CRICKET TIPS

In the second match of the Australian T20 League 2020, Melbourne S will take on Brisbane H at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday.

Melbourne came so close to ending their wait for a title last season but a defeat in the final at the hands of Sydney crushed their dreams once again. They start this year’s competition as favorites and are fancied to break their duck this season. The side has a strong core of players who have done well in the previous season and will be eager to put up a good show this time as well.

M Stoinis, G Maxwell, and the new additions A Fletcher and N Pooran make up a scary top order who can hit balls a long way. As far as the side’s bowling is concerned, B Stanlake and N Coulter-Nile have the pace department covered, with A Zampa in the spin role. Maxwell and Stoinis can also bowl well in the middle overs.

Brisbane have generally struggled in the league despite winning the title back in the second season. They had a miserable time in the last few seasons and have managed just one top-four finish in the last four seasons. C Lynn will be hoping for a good show here that can set the tone for the rest of the tournament. 

In the twelve head-to-head games between the two teams, Brisbane are at an advantage with eight wins while Melbourne have won 4 games. The last four encounters have seen each team win two games.

With some of the biggest superstars of T20 cricket in action, expect a cracker of a game at Canberra on Friday evening.

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Match Details

  • Match: Melbourne S vs. Brisbane H, Match 2
  • Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
  • Date & Time: Dec. 11, 2020, at 1.45 PM IST

Probable Playing XI

Melbourne S

M Stoinis, A Fletcher, N Maddinson, G Maxwell (C), Pooran (wk), B Dunk, C Hinchliffe, N Coulter-Nile, A Zampa, B Stanlake, Z Khan

Brisbane H

C Lynn (C), M Bryant, D Lawrence, S Heazlett, T Cooper, J Peirson (WK), J Wildermuth, M Kuhnemann, M Steketee, M Morkel, B Laughlin

Weather and Pitch Report

The weather will be mostly sunny, with a few cloud covers at times during the game. The temperature will be around 14 degrees at the start, which will go down as the night descends.

Manuka Oval has short square boundaries and long straight boundaries, which makes it an ideal venue for playing strokes. Spinners can get more assistance than pacers, given the two-paced nature of the surface. The average score in the last five T20 games played here has been 171 runs.

There is not much advantage for the side batting first or second. It will depend on the toss-winning captain what his team is more comfortable doing first. Anything around 170 should be a good score here.

Key Players

  • M Stoinis was fabulous at the top for Melbourne last season, scoring 704 runs at an average of 54.23. His 147* against Sydney last season is the highest individual score in the league’s history. He has been in good form for Delhi and Australia in the last few months.
  • G Maxwell is coming off an exceptional series against India, where he contributed with the bat as well as the ball. He scored 398 runs last season at a strike rate of 148.5, including 3 half centuries. He also picked up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 7.
  • A Zampa has enjoyed good form this summer. He was the highest wicket taker for Melbourne last season, with 20 wickets at an average of 16.2. He also picked up 10 wickets in the recent ODI and T20I series against India.
  • The form of C Lynn will be a key factor in Brisbane's success this season. He was the top scorer for the team last season, scoring 387 runs at a strike rate of 148.84. Expect him to play a big knock here.
  • England’s D Lawrence is a great addition to the side. He has scored runs at a strike rate of 141.46 and taken 21 wickets, thanks to his off-break bowling for Essex in the recently concluded English T20 League.
  • B Laughlin is a veteran bowler who has vast experience in the shortest format. He has taken 190 wickets in 156 T20 games. Last season, he took 15 wickets at an average of 25.73. He will look to start the season well for Brisbane.  

Howzat Dream Team

  • Wicketkeeper: N Pooran
  • Batsmen: M Bryant, C Lynn, T Cooper
  • All-rounders: M Stoinis, G Maxwell, D Lawrence
  • Bowlers: B Laughlin, J Wildermuth, A Zampa, C Hinchliffe
  • Captain: M Stoinis/G Maxwell
  • Vice Captain: T Cooper/D Lawrence
Howzat Dream Team Melbourne S vs Brisbane H

NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own fantasy 11, and play fantasy cricket matches. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team suggested.

Get fantasy cricket tips on your favorite fantasy sports app and select your own team, Howzat!

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