Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat Preview & Prediction | BBL|14 | League Stage
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Only victory here over Melbourne Renegades gives reigning champions Brisbane Heat any chance of progressing through to the play-offs this season.
Date & time: Friday January 17th 2025: USA PT – 10:00pm / Saturday January 18th 2025: USA ET – 1:00am / UK – 6:00am
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia
Weather: Extremely hot conditions with plenty of sunshine and temperatures touching 30c.
How to watch: USA – Willow TV / UK – Sky Sports & Sky Go / Australia – Seven Network, Foxtel & Kayo Sports
How to get tickets for BBL|14: Click here for the latest ticket information for Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat
Melbourne Renegades Preview: Battle to avoid wooden spoon
With Melbourne Renegades currently in last-place with just one match to play, they have reason to be motivated here in a bid to avoid finishing rock bottom of the table. This was not anticipated after a start which saw them win two of their opening three games. But since then, Will Sutherland’s side have lost five of their last six.
The Renegades were expected to have an inconsistent season in what is a transitional campaign following the appointment of a new captain and head coach. But to end up bottom of the league would be a big disappointment.
Brisbane Heat Preview: Win or top four hopes extinguished
Brisbane Heat know what the stakes are heading into the one. With the forecast excellent for play, anything less than victory would confirm their elimination from the tournament, a real let down for the BBL 13 winners who were expected to be among the teams contending again for the top prize this season.
However, a win puts the Heat into the top four and piles the pressure onto Melbourne Stars, who would then need to win at the weekend against high-flying Hobart Hurricanes to reclaim fourth-spot and knock Brisbane out of BBL 14.
Melbourne Renegades Betting Analysis
Melbourne Renegades’ struggles this season haven’t been for the lack of effort by Tom Rogers. He has successfully taken 16 wickets in his side’s nine league stage fixtures played, the most of any BBL 14 player, let along within the Renegades’ squad. Consider backing Rogers to finish with a flourish here and pick up 3+ wickets via the ‘Bowler Milestones’ market.
Brisbane Heat Betting Analysis
A fixture like this requires the best players to step up and perform. For the Heat, that means Xavier Bartlett, who will be desperate to make amends after he failed to prevent Hobart Hurricanes from reaching their victory target in the final over between them and Brisbane on Thursday. A quality bowler like him can’t be kept down for long, so explore backing Bartlett with a small stake through the ‘Team - Top Bowler’ market.
Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat Expert Prediction
This is about whether Brisbane Heat can handle the pressure of their tournament being on the line. They clutched up last season and now they need to do it again if the Heat are to have any hope of moving on. Melbourne Renegades appear to be burnt out and their recent results suggest as such. Back the Heat to fill their end of the bargain and put the ball in Melbourne Stars’ court.
Melbourne Renegades vs Brisbane Heat Top Tip: Brisbane Heat to win
