Brisbane Heat still seeking first points

Match facts

September 28, 2013
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

Big Picture

Chennai Super Kings' power-packed batting line-up made a mockery of a 185-run target in their first game before blitzing a 200-plus total in the next to set them up for a semi-final spot, should they win their next encounter. Their opponents, Brisbane Heat, are languishing at the opposite end of the table, still winless in the tournament primarily because of inadequacies in the batting department.

The situation, however, is similar to how Heat began their BBL campaign last year - three losses in four matches. Their bowling, which was largely responsible for the turnaround that fetched them the Big Bash crown, continued to impress, limiting Titans and Trinidad & Tobago to modest targets. But unlike in the Big Bash, their batsmen have failed to step up. Case in point was their last match, when Heat could not chase down 124.

The onus falls on captain James Hopes, Peter Forrest and Daniel Christian, all with international experience, to remedy the situation. Forrest is under particular scrutiny, manning the No. 3 position. Though his style of play involves spending a little time in the middle before using his stocky frame to muscle the ball down the ground, he is yet to taste success in this competition.

Heat would be hopeful that the change of venue proves a useful ally. In addition to escaping Jaipur's bowler-friendly conditions, Heat's batsmen would benefit from the dew on the JSCA ground in Ranchi. The moisture on the field was so pronounced that seamer Ben Cutting was prompted into calling the toss in tomorrow's game a "big one".

Another potential advantage lies in Super Kings' relatively weak bowling line-up. Every bowler has an economy rate north of eight after two matches, with Ravindra Jadeja's 17.75 being the worst of the lot . But Super Kings more than make up for It in their batting, with three key players - Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni - in such prime form they have almost benefited from the loss of M Vijay's wicket, who has been woeful. Another concern for Super Kings could be lower-order rust, with Jadeja and Morkel having faced only two balls each in the tournament so far.

Players to watch

Dwayne Bravo has steadily grown in value in the Super Kings camp, eventually taking over from Morkel as their first-choice allrounder and more recently has picked up the mantle of their premier death bowler.

Joe Burns has been Heat's most successful batsman in this tournament so far, but has been guilty of losing his wicket at crucial moments. Heat will look to him to resolve that issue and in effect help their batting develop a stronger skeleton.

Quotes

"One point is really clear, we need to learn to bowl in the dew-factor."
Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina predicts a secondary challenge during their match against Brisbane Heat

"I certainly won't be bowling any wide yorkers to him because they tend to disappear over the boundary."
Brisbane Heat seamer Ben Cutting hints at his strategy to keep MS Dhoni quiet