Melbourne-R will take on Adelaide to add some confidence in its worst campaign of Australia T20 League 2020-21. Finch’s troops have been humiliated in the previous game, while Adelaide suffered a 7-wickets defeat to Sydney-S.
Match Timings: Jan 05, 1:45 PM IST
Team Preview
The way Melbourne-R is playing this season, they should walk away from all the matches to sit at home and think about the drama which is going between the players. 2021 didn’t offer any positivity for the Melbourne-R as they bowled out for just 89, their third below-100 total this season. No team has ever performed like this in the history of the tournament. Coach Michael Klinger has no idea how to go ahead in this tournament with this approach. They are not even standing in the frame. They are not only losing the game but also getting humiliated by the opponents.
In the previous encounter, Perth scored a huge 185 as Melbourne-R’s bowling unit looked pretty dull. After picking two on 56 in 9 overs, Melbourne-R failed in death-overs. In the last 11 overs, they conceded 129 runs. In the chase, only two players reached in the double-digit, and Prestwidge played a short cameo of 33 to decrease the losing margin as Melbourne-R were eight down at 59. Only Shaun Marsh had shown some steady approach with the bat who amassed 247 runs scoring three half-centuries. The skipper is out of form this season, and the middle-order has been so poor. The bowling unit is also not delivering best as they have conceded 180 plus total thrice this season. There is no Melbourne-R player in the top 10 wicket-takers. Kane Richardson has some decent numbers who picked nine wickets at an average of 21.44. They require collective success to end this losing run and get back to the positive track.
Meanwhile, Adelaide have been clinically good but lost four matches out of seven. They stand in the top four with 13 points, following a defeat to Sydney-S in the first encounter of 2021. With the slow run-rate, Adelaide failed to post a good total at Gold Coast. Wells scored vital 66 runs, but he took 56 balls in this knock, and he didn’t see any fire from Carey and Weatherald. Sydney-S chased down 151 with 12 balls spare. Adelaide couldn’t draw any hope in defending this total. It was the fourth defeat for them.
Matt Renshaw’s poor form has to be questioned. After the signing from Brisbane, his average is 14.42, and the best score of 33. Carey has to look for another option in top-order. Weatherald and Phillip Saltare in good touch, but both have to remain consistent. Carey has been a key figure for Adelaide with scoring 192 runs from 5 innings. Peter Siddle and Wes Agar have been impactful in pace, and Rashid Khan has taken charge in middle-order. With the current scenario, Adelaide are in better control to win this game as the Melbourne-R looks without a clue.
Pitch Report
Adelaide Oval is a fine batting surface, and it offers a lot of runs. Pacers can draw some assistance from the pitch, and spinners have a little help from the track. Chasing would be an ideal call after winning the toss.
Possible XI
Melbourne-R
Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Sam Harper (wk), Rilee Rossouw, Beau Webster, Mohammad Nabi, Jack Prestwidge, Kane Richardson, Josh Lalor, Peter Hatzoglou, Noor Ahmad
Adelaide-S
Jake Weatherald, Philip Salt, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (c & wk), Jonathan Wells, Ryan Gibson, Rashid Khan, Daniel Worrall, Danny Briggs, Wes Agar, Peter Siddle
Key Players
Melbourne-R
Shaun Marsh
Season so far – M: 6, Runs: 247, Avg: 35.29
Kane Richardson
Season so far – M: 6, Wickets: 9, Avg: 21.44
Adelaide-S
Alex Carey
Season so far – M: 5, Runs: 192, Avg: 38.40
Rashid Khan
Season so far – M: 7, Wickets: 11, Avg: 17.63
