BBL|10 The Knockout: Thunder v Heat betting tips, prediction & odds

Welcome to our Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat betting tips, winner prediction and odds analysis for The Knockout final of the 2020-21 Big Bash League at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Sunday, January 31.

The Heat won their way through to this finals clash in Canberra with their win in the opening Eliminator final on Friday night against the Adelaide Strikers. Their bowling in particular was impressive, with leg-spinners Marnus Labuschagne and Mitch Swepson sharing five wickets between them.

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The Heat were a little shaky in their run chase and they will have to kick it up a notch against the free-wheeling Thunder, who were arguably the stand-out batting side of the season proper.

Thunder coach Shane Bond has to make a call on all-rounder Daniel Sams, who has missed past three matches with a wrist injury to his non-bowling hand. Sams is a key wicket-taker with this left-arm pace bowling and also provides power in the middle of the batting order.

These teams met twice during the tournament with the Heat winning by five wickets on January 4, when Joe Denly and Joe Burns each reached 50 in a good run chase.

The Thunder won the earlier meeting in December when they chased down 6-178 with seven balls to spare at Manuka Oval. Sams was the hero, smashing 65 from 25 balls with seven sixes.

Read on for our free Thunder v Heat tips ahead of their T20 clash in Canberra on Sunday, January 31.

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How the BBL|10 finals series works

The Eliminator: Brisbane Heat (4) v Adelaide Strikers (5). Heat 4-131 (18.5 overs; Jimmy Peirson 47no, Joe Denly 41) d Strikers 7-130 (20 overs; Jake Weatherald 32; Marnus Labuschagne 3-13) by six wickets at the Gabba.
The Qualifier: Sydney Sixers (1) v Perth Scorchers (2). Saturday, January 30, Manuka Oval, 7.15pm AEDT
The Knock-Out: Sydney Thunder (3) v winner of Eliminator. Sunday, January 31, Manuka Oval, 7.15pm AEDT
The Challenger: loser of Qualifier v winner of Knock-Out. Thursday, February 4, TBC, 7.15pm AEDT

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Thunder v Heat BBL teams

Sydney Thunder (possible):  Usman Khawaja, Alex Hales, Callum Ferguson (c), Sam Billings (wk), Alex Ross, Ben Cutting, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Green, Adam Milne, Brendan Doggett, Tanveer Sangha.

Brisbane Heat (possible): Sam Heazlett, Chris Lynn (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Denly, Joe Burns, Jimmy Peirson (wk), Lewis Gregory, Mark Steketee, Xavier Bartlett, Mitch Swepson, Ben Laughlin, Morne Morkel.

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Thunder v Heat BBL odds

Head to head odds: Sydney Thunder $1.72, Brisbane Heat $2.12

Man of the match betting:
$7 Alex Hales, Chris Lynn
$9 Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja
$11 Daniel Sams, Joe Denly
$13 Sam Billings, Callum Ferguson, Max Bryant
$15+ others

Top run scorer Thunder odds:
$3.25 Alex Hales
$4 Usman Khawaja
$4.50 Callum Ferguson
$5.50 Sam Billings
$7.50 Jason Sangha, Alex Ross
$8 Oliver Davies

Top run scorer Heat odds:
$3 Chris Lynn
$4 Marnus Labuschagne
$5 Max Bryant, Joe Denly
$6 Sam Heazlett
$7.50 Joe Burns
$8 Tom Cooper

Top wicket-taker Thunder odds:
$3.75 Tanveer Sangha, Daniel Sams
$4 Adam Milne
$4.50 Brendan Doggett
$5 Chris Green, Nathan McAndrew, Chris Tremain
$5.50 Jono Cook, Ben Cutting

Top wicket-taker Heat odds:
$3.50 Mark Steketee
$4.50 Morne Morkel, Jack Wildermuth, Mitchell Swepson, Ben Laughlin
$5 Xavier Bartlett, Marnus Labuschagne
$5.50 Matthew Kuhnemann
$6 Lewis Gregory

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Thunder v Heat betting tips

Our cricket tipsters have examined the odds and found several Thunder v Heat tips for Sunday’s BBL clash.

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Thunder v Heat prediction 31/1/2021

These one-off matches can be cruel. The Thunder were so close to finishing in the top two and earning the double chance but they could lose this and be straight out of the race. Luck can play a big part and the toss will be crucial with some rain forecast for Canberra. We expect though that the Thunder will be able to capitalise on a better preparation as the Heat have had to travel from Brisbane for this. It should be close but the Thunder have been better over the course of the season. Our final Thunder v Heat prediction: Thunder to edge the Heat.

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Thunder v Heat lowdown

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