Both Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Stars will be searching for wins when they lock horns with each other at the Adelaide Oval on Monday. The Strikers are currently occupying the fourth spot in the table with 17 points to their name. The Stars, on the other hand, are at the seventh spot with 15 points.
A win in this match, however, can help Glenn Maxwell and his men to displace the Strikers from the fourth spot. However, they need to get their act together first to do that. The Stars have lost four out of their last five games and that isn’t the kind of results any team wants coming to this stage. They have lost a lot of close matches too and hence, they need to work on their finishing.
The Strikers, on the other hand, have been a little inconsistent of late as well. They have won two and lost three of their last five encounters, but they will have the advantage in this match as they are playing in home conditions.
Team News
Nicholas Pooran will head home now as his contract with the Stars has come to an end. Liam Hatcher didn’t feature in the last match due to fatigue but he will be expected to start here. As for the Strikers, Peter Siddle is ruled out with a thumb injury. Cameron Valente is expected to replace him in the XI.
Probable Playing XIs
Adelaide Strikers
Philip Salt, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (C & WK), Jonathan Wells, Jake Weatherald, Ryan Gibson, Rashid Khan, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Cameron Valente, Harry Conway
Melbourne Stars
Andre Fletcher, Marcus Stoinis, Hilton Cartwright, Glenn Maxwell (C), Ben Dunk (WK), Seb Gotch, Sam Rainbird, Nick Larkin, Liam Hatcher, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa
Key Players
Rashid Khan (Adelaide Strikers)
The Afghan wrist-spinner has played a crucial role with his bowling for the Strikers once again. Rashid has picked up 14 wickets in the tournament so far, at an excellent average of 17.07 and his economy rate of 6.82 has been pretty exceptional as well. The Strikers will depend on him to give them crucial breakthroughs throughout the match.
Marcus Stoinis (Melbourne Stars)
Stoinis has already amassed 230 runs in this season at a good average of 38.33. It includes two fifties, one of which is his best score of 97* this season, and his runs have come at an overall strike-rate of 161.97 as well. Stoinis bats at the top and hence, the Stars will be banking on him to set the tone of the innings.