We have another double header of action in the Indian Premier League on Sunday as the four teams who didn’t compete on Saturday get their latest match played. The day begins in Abu Dhabi where the Sunrisers Hyderabad take on the Kolkata Knight Riders.
This match sees the two sides either side of the play-off divide in action and with the competition table beginning to look like it is a five way race for the final spot in the postseason, each game like this carries extra importance.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
It has been an up and down season for the Sunrisers Hyderabad so far and they go into this match off the back of successive defeats so they will be eager to end that run here if at all possible. If they do manage to do that then they will assume pole position in the race for that final spot in the play-offs and have their destiny in their own hands. Defeat here would see them move four points behind with just five regular season matches left which isn’t an ideal position.
The big issue for the Sunrisers has been their middle to lower order with the bat. It just hasn’t propelled innings to its conclusion enough. When they have they have tended to go very well in matches but when they haven’t the pressure turns over to a bowling attack which is missing a leader in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and in truth they have often been found wanting. Even the great Rashid Khan has gone round the park a couple of times late on.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Given the issues the Kolkata Knight Riders have on and off the field it is very much to their credit that they currently occupy a spot in the top four. They have an issue with Sunil Narine and the likelihood that the next time he bowls he will be banned from bowling in the tournament while they have a massive problem with organising their batting line up. That has been apparent all the way through the competition and it remains the case.
The form of Andre Russell isn’t exactly helping in that regard but very rarely do two matches come and go where the Knight Riders play the same four five and six. If they can sort that axis out there isn’t a lot of weakness in their setup on the field and as the pitches continue to tire they are a team that has the potential to come into their own. The one concern I have with them is when they are beaten they are heavily beaten. I hate that in a team.
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Key Men
Jonny Bairstow is often the man to light up the Sunrisers Hyderabad batting innings and if the Sunrisers are to win this match then they need to get the Kolkata batting under pressure by putting up a decent score. He is key to that.
Pat Cummins has shown his class with the bat on a couple of occasions in this tournament but his primary duty is to take wickets, something he has only managed on two occasions so far. He has gone wicket less in his last five outings but if Kolkata are to win this they need to split the Sunrisers opening pair up quickly. All eyes will be on him to do that.
Betting
I keep on mentioning how these day matches are lower scoring compared to the others. The truth is all the matches are starting to get lower scoring but especially these first games in double headers and even more here at Abu Dhabi where scoring runs has been quite tough all tournament. I don’t expect anything to change here when you think that both the middle orders of these teams aren’t really functioning as they would like.
Although there are better bowling attacks in the competition both these teams are competent in that department and so as long as they don’t let their opposite opening pair get away from them then I am expecting another relatively low scoring match here. The runs line for this match is up at 330.5 and the only time that has been covered on this ground this season, day or night, has been when the Mumbai Indians have been involved. They are not involved here so I’m happy on the under.
Tips
PUSH – Back Under 330.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Betway
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