While Test cricket is reaffirming its status as the single best form of the game, the T20 machine rolls on behind. The Sydney Sixers stayed top with their third last-over victory of the season, Dan Christian going off in a steady chase of a small target set by the Brisbane Heat (the responsibility of Carlos Braithwaite, whose 4/18 should probably have won him player of the match in my book). The win put the Sixers just above their cross-town rivals in the Thunder, the bonus point serving as the cherry on top.
That win has as good as secured a spot in the finals for the Sixers, who have a 99% chance of making the five. Them and the Thunder remain the two frontrunners, with our system giving it a 2/3 chance that the trophy will remain in Sydney. Brisbane continue to have the second lowest rating in the tournament, but are one of four teams with a chance between 50% and 60% of reaching the knockouts.
Tonight’s game will probably still leave Brisbane in the same place, given that it’ll become easier for one of the teams they’re fighting with and harder for another. The Melbourne Stars, in their last game before the (hopeful) return to Melbourne, are very slight favourites against Adelaide.
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