BBL|12 finals race heating up in last week of the regular season

Twelve games remain in the KFC BBL|12 regular season and the race for the remaining five finals spots is heating up courtesy of a few teams recovering from slow starts.

The addition of multiple Australian players has catapulted the Brisbane Heat back into contention, with last night's thrilling win over the Stars – which knocked the Melbourne side out in the process – putting them one point behind the fourth-placed Adelaide Strikers.

But it is fifth-placed Hurricanes who are the other club to have roared back into the finals picture, with Matthew Wade's side leapfrogging the Thunder into the top five after their win over the Sydney side at Blundstone Arena last Sunday.

On the same day, the Scorchers and Sixers took on each other in a top of the table clash at the SCG, with the home side scrapping over the line by six runs to put them within one point of the ladder-leaders.

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The Scorchers, however, have eight wins from their 11 matches and barring three calamitous losses in their remaining games, are locked in for another finals campaign.

Who else joins them remains to be seen, with the Hurricanes-Heat clash on the final day of the season every chance of deciding the final standings.

1st: Perth Scorchers (16 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 8 | Lost: 3 | NRR: 1.017

Run home

Jan 18 v Hurricanes (Perth Stadium)

Jan 20 v Strikers (Adelaide Oval)

Jan 22 v Renegades (Perth Stadium)

It's same-old, same-old for the Scorchers who seem perennially glued to the top of the BBL ladder and looked destined for another podium finish in the 12th edition of the competition. Sunday's final-over loss to the Sixers was a rare blemish and just their third of the season, with their local talent again holding them in good stead right throughout the tournament. Faf du Plessis provided the fireworks in the first half of the season, but it has been Josh Inglis and newly promoted No.3 Aaron Hardie who have put the onus on themselves to deliver with the bat, given Mitch Marsh's absence for the entirety of the season. The ever-reliable Andrew Tye sits atop of the wicket-taker's list with 20, while Jason Behrendorff (16) and the injured Jhye Richardson (15) round out a formidable first-choice pace attack. Richardson is expected to return for their finals campaign as he battles a hamstring injury, however Englishman David Payne and Aussie Test squad member Lance Morris have provided ample cover throughout his recovery. Games against three teams vying to secure their spot in the finals to close the season won't be easy, but the Scorchers are well poised as they search for a fifth title.

2nd: Sydney Sixers (15 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 7 | Lost: 3 | No result: 1 | NRR: 0.016

Run home

Jan 17 v Strikers (Coffs Harbour)

Jan 21 v Thunder (SCG)

Jan 23 v Hurricanes (Blundstone Arena)

A crucial six-run win over the Scorchers has kept the Sixers right in the hunt for top spot, and with three games to come against teams below them on the ladder, they will be confident in giving themselves every chance to add a fourth title to their cabinet. It has been a collective effort from the experienced Sixers, with only Sean Abbott's 19 wickets standing out among some of the other top performers so far in the competition. Four of their seven wins have come by less than seven runs or in the last over when chasing, with veterans Jordan Silk, Dan Christian and Moises Henriques all stepping up in crucial moments. Steve Smith looked ominous in his return to the BBL with 36 off 27 against the Scorchers and will be a dangerous prospect for opposition sides in his new slot as opener during a short stint before finals.

3rd: Melbourne Renegades (12 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 6 | Lost: 5 | NRR: 0.01

Run home

Jan 19 v Thunder (Manuka Oval)

Jan 22 v Scorchers (Perth Stadium)

Jan 24 v Strikers (Marvel Stadium)

It has been a welcome return to form for the Renegades after three seasons entrenched at the foot of the table, however they must still win at least one game if they are to return to the finals for the first time since their championship season of BBL|08. Thursday's clash against the Thunder will be crucial in deciding that fate, with the chance to sure up their own spot on the ladder and make their fellow contenders' chances even tougher the added incentive to inspire an away from home win. They'll then take on the Scorchers in Perth before they return to Marvel Stadium for their final game against the Strikers, where they have lost only once this season. Their campaign started with three consecutive wins, and while they have been beaten convincingly by table-toppers the Scorchers and Sixers (twice), a pair of Melbourne derby victories has kept them in the top five right throughout BBL|12. A trio of half centuries from wicketkeeper Sam Harper in his past three knocks has stabilised the 'Gades batting line up, while the all-round emergence of Will Sutherland has been pivotal in their rise up the ladder as they hold the weight of Melbourne's title hopes on their shoulders.

4th: Adelaide Strikers (10 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 5 | Lost: 6 | NRR: 0.483

Run home

Jan 17 v Sixers (Coffs Harbour)

Jan 20 v Scorchers (Adelaide Oval)

Jan 24 v Renegades (Marvel Stadium)

After initially appearing to be the team to beat in BBL|12 with three convincing wins to open the season, the Strikers suffered a mid-season slump and are among a pack of teams contending for seemingly the final three spots in the top five. Matt Short (418) and Chris Lynn (416) are the leading run-scorers in the competition, however the latter's departure for the UAE's International League T20 tournament leaves them with a gaping hole in their batting line up should they secure a finals spot. Strikers' stalwarts and Test players Travis Head and Alex Carey will fill that void in the meantime; however, they will be unavailable should they go deep into the finals when they depart for Australia's Qantas Tour of India. Henry Thornton and Wes Agar have been bright sparks with the ball and were at the centre of the Strikers' rout of the Thunder for just 15 earlier in the season, but have fallen away since, resulting in their side winning just two of their last eight. Games against the Sixers and Scorchers to come make their position all the more vulnerable and they will be needing to win at least one of those two to give themselves a chance to secure a finals berth in their final game against the Renegades.

5th: Hobart Hurricanes (10 points)

Played: 10 | Won: 5 | Lost: 5 | NRR: -0.176

Run home

Jan 18 v Scorchers (Perth Stadium)

Jan 20 v Heat (Gabba)

Jan 23 v Sixers (Blundstone Arena)

Jan 25 v Heat (UTAS Stadium)

An inconsistent Hurricanes outfit finally appear to have gotten their mixture right in BBL|12 and having played one less game than all other teams, they hold the upper hand in the race for finals. The emergence of Paddy Dooley with the ball has been the story of the 'Canes season, with the majority of other players struggling to make a meaningful impact on a consistent basis. Sunday's win over the Thunder seemed to put the Cane train back on track, with a Nathan Ellis hat-trick and a brutal half century from Tim David helping them leap into the top five and set up their surge for finals. Caleb Jewell has been a healthy addition to the top of the order, with the left-hander's form keeping club leading run-scorer D'Arcy Short out of their XI at times, while David has shown glimpses of his destructive tendencies. Home and away fixtures against fellow finals hopefuls Brisbane will be pivotal to the make-up of the top five, and they will be looking to bank both of those wins, with their other two matchups against the top two sides.

6th: Sydney Thunder (10 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 5 | Lost: 6 | NRR: -0.423

Run home

Jan 19 v Renegades (Manuka Oval)

Jan 21 v Sixers (SCG)

Jan 25 v Stars (MCG)

The Thunder's inferior net-run-rate has them last of the three sides on 10 points, and they will be hoping their rollercoaster season returns to an upward trajectory in their final three games. All of those are winnable, with a Sydney derby and contests against the two Melbourne sides awaiting them. They will begin their quest to return to the top five in Canberra on Thursday against the Renegades, before an away bout with their crosstown rivals on Saturday night. They will need to win at least one of those to make BBL|12's final game of the season – an MCG clash between them and the Stars – a live contest. Having lost three games in a row to start their campaign – including the infamous capitulation for 15 – the Thunder then went on a four-game winning streak and appeared to be the main challenger to the Scorchers and Sixers. However, now in the midst of another three losses on the bounce, they will have to act quickly if they are to make a fourth-consecutive finals series.

7th: Brisbane Heat (9 points)

Played: 11 | Won: 4 | Lost: 6 | No result: 1 | NRR: -0.721

Run home

Jan 20 v Hurricanes (Gabba)

Jan 22 v Stars (Gabba)

Jan 25 v Hurricanes (UTAS Stadium)

After back-to-back wins the Heat remain in the finals hunt and with two games against the Hurricanes, who they are just one point in arrears to, their fate is largely in their hands. The recent additions of Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Renshaw – who was the hero against the Stars on Monday – has no doubt provided some class and stability to their line up, while Michael Neser's strong form with the ball has been a constant all season. The X-factor of Josh Brown has been a highlight, with the powerful opener lighting up the Gabba at times, however the Heat have struggled to consistently post winning totals. Beating the Stars last night was a good first step, and their return fixture against them this coming Sunday will also be crucial, but it is their two clashes with the Hurricanes that will ultimately determine their fate.

8th: Melbourne Stars (6 points)

Played: 12 | Won: 3 | Lost: 9 | NRR: -0.276

Run home

Jan 22 v Heat (Gabba)

Jan 25 v Thunder (MCG)

While there still would have been a lot of work to do, the Stars decision to rest Nathan Coulter-Nile in their last-over loss to the Renegades last Saturday may just have proven costly in keeping their finals hopes alive. With only two games remaining and the Stars sitting four points out of the top five, their chances of returning to the finals are all but over after a tough season without skipper Glenn Maxwell, as well as Marcus Stoinis for a large chunk. The absence of the star pair left their batting line up with too much to make up for, with only English recruit Joe Clarke among the competition's top run-scorers. Fellow Englishman Luke Wood has been impressive with the ball, snaring 17 wickets, but again, not enough of his teammates have been able to significantly contribute to aid their push for a finals berth. This Sunday's return clash with the Heat offers them a chance for redemption, while they take on the Thunder in their final match next Wednesday in a game that mirrors the thrilling contest that opened BBL|12.