Perth Scorchers are set to take on Melbourne Stars in the 39th match of the KFC BBL|15 at Optus Stadium in Perth on January 17, Saturday. The bat flip is at 4:30 pm local (7:30 pm AEDT), with play starting at 5:15 pm local (8:15 pm AEDT) as both teams will like to end the league stage on a high before the knockouts.

 

Perth Scorchers (PS)

 

With Josh Inglis returning to the XI, the Scorchers have welcomed back a much-needed reinforcement. The Australian wicketkeeper was rested in their last game under the workload management plan of Cricket Australia with an eye on the T20 World Cup. Only this change has been made to a Scorchers line-up that is playing very well and looking for a top finish.

 

Melbourne Stars (MS)

 

The Stars were initially going to include Joe Clarke, who had been previously listed but withdrew from the last match. Clarke, out since injuring his hip against the Thunder on December 28, should help to bolster the Stars' batting in what is their last match before the finals, in the place of Sam Hain.

 

PS vs MS Match Details

 

PS vs MS BBL Match Details
Match	Perth Scorchers vs Melbourne Stars 39th Match
Date and Time	Saturday, January 17; 02:45 p.m. IST
Venue	Perth Stadium, Perth
Broadcasting and live streaming	TV-Star Sports Network; Livestream-JioHotstar

 

PS vs MS Pitch Report

 

Optus Stadium pitch is generally good for pace and bounce, aiding stroke play while giving fast bowlers something to work with all along. The spinners are of diminished value in such conditions, while the chasing has been easy with relatively constant speed and outfield. A total between 165-185 can currently be termed as competitive.

  PS vs MS Weather Report

 

The conditions will remain clear on Saturday evening, with temperatures hovering around 19°C and Real Feel at 17°C. Winds may originate from a southerly direction at 20 km/h, with some gusts reaching 39 km/h. Humidity is around 67%, with a dew point of 14°C, and with no rain being forecast, the conditions are suitable for cricket.

 

PS vs MS Head-to-Head Records

 

PS vs MS head-to-head (in T20s)
Match Played	24
Won by Perth Scorchers	15
Won by Melbourne Stars	8
Tied	0
No Result	1

 

PS vs MS 39th BBL Probable XI

 

• Perth Scorchers: Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Ashton Turner (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nick Hobson, Jhye Richardson, Luke Holt, David Payne, Mahli Beardman

 

• Melbourne Stars: Sam Harper (wk), Thomas Fraser Rogers, Campbell Kellaway, Blake Macdonald, Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Tom Curran, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle

 

Players To Watch Out For In the PS vs MS 39th BBL Match

 

• Finn Allen | PS: Allen enters this match in explosive form after smashing his maiden Big Bash century, where he struck eight sixes. He has hit six more maximums than any other player this season, and with a strike rate of 192.6, he has the firepower to change games in a hurry. The home crowd will be expecting him to come up with another quick-fire innings to help push towards a top-table finish.

 

• Peter Siddle | MS: Veteran pacer Peter Siddle remains very much in the contest, running above 140 km/h consistently at the ripe age of 41. He has picked up 15 wickets, being among multiple Stars bowlers with double digits, including Tom Curran, Haris Rauf, and Marcus Stoinis. His experience and skill are still that most significant in critical moments.

 

PS vs MS Toss Prediction

 

Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue

 

• In the last 3 T20 matches played at this venue, the team winning the toss has opted to bowl first on all three occasions.

 

Advantages of bowling First on This Pitch

 

• In 58 men's T20 matches played at this venue so far, the team batting first has recorded 25 victories, while the team chasing has won in 33 matches. The recent trend suggests that teams should prefer to bowl first and restrict the opponents at low score.

 

PS vs MS Today's Match Scenario

 

Scenario 1

 

• Toss Winner: PS (opts to bowl first)


• Power-Play Score: 35-40


• MS Total: 160-175


• Match Winner: Perth Scorchers

 

Scenario 2

 

• Toss Winner: MS (opts to bowl first)


• Power-Play Score: 40-45


• PS Total: 170-185


• Match Winner: Perth Scorchers

 

Who will win today's PS vs MS 39th BBL T20 match?

 

Both teams welcome back key players, but the home ground conditions, stronger balance, and current batting momentum all lend themselves to a slight edge for the Perth Scorchers when compared to the Stars. If Finn Allen gets going, and the bowling unit maintains its discipline, then the Scorchers are best positioned to win Match 39 at Optus Stadium.