The second half of the double header of action in the Indian Premier League on Saturday afternoon sees the action head back to Sharjah for the clash between the second placed Royal Challengers Bangalore and the second to last Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Bangalore are looking good for the play-offs regardless of the result here but a win will guarantee it. Sunrisers have managed to hold on to a positive net run rate and if they can win here they will move into the top four. Defeat will end their hopes however.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Things were going pretty smoothly for the Royal Challengers Bangalore when they had seven wins from their opening 10 matches but two games later they are still on the same total having dropped their last two outings. That will be a concern for a side who have a reputation for bottling it when the going gets tough, and they will be keen to arrest that slide here not just to put those doubts to bed but also to wrap up a play-off spot and be in pole position to finish in the top two.
The big problem they have had in those last two matches has been a lack of runs with the bat. I wouldn’t necessarily say they have batted poorly but they have been guilty of not assessing the situation and putting the foot down quicker. In the last game against the Mumbai Indians they didn’t finish the batting innings very well and ended up paying the price. If they are going to win this match and do some damage in the play-offs they need to finish both innings better.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
It has been an up and down week or so for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. In two of their last three matches they have looked like their batting is back to acceptable of levels but when we think they have it covered they stick in a shocking performance with the willow which undoes them completely. It goes without saying that if they are going to win the two matches they need to do in order to extend their season then their batting has to remain consistent and good.
One area where they have improved the longer the tournament has gone on is with the ball. The inclusion of Jason Holder has certainly helped in that department. He brings a calmness and experience to the bowling attack which the young Indian bowlers have rallied around and you get the feeling that if their batting can hold up at the crunch moments then they could yet play a major role in the remainder of the season.
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Key Men
You always have to get stuck into the openers when you face the Sunrisers Hyderabad so that makes the new ball spell of Chris Morris key for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. If he can get rid of one if not both of them the Royal Challengers will be well on their way.
David Warner has been in good touch in recent times and if the Sunrisers are going to win this match they need their batsmen to not just build a foundation in their batting innings but finish it off well. A big knock from the captain will certainly help in that.
Betting
I’ll go with one bet here and it comes in the form of the match runs of Devdutt Padikkal where the line looks very much on the low side at 21.5. I say that for a number of reasons really, the first of which being that he’s in great form and with Bangalore sticking a basher alongside him, the Indian youngster can take his time to play himself in and then get going with the big shots once he has got up and running.
Padikkal has passed 50 on four occasions this season and averages 34.75 with the bat for the season. More still he has made 22 or more nine times in his 12 knocks this season. The other two reasons for liking this bet is there isn’t a huge amount of trickery with the new ball for the Sunrisers and we know this Sharjah ground is pretty small so he won’t need to be at the crease too long to make it up to 22. Five of his last six innings have passed this total and he already has 56 against the Sunrisers this season. I like the over here.
Tips
Back D.Padikkal – Over 21.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.85 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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