The final double header of the Easter period takes place on Monday and it all begins in Delhi as two form sides meet. The Delhi Daredevils host the Kolkata Knight Riders in a match which will determine who leaves the Easter weekend in the top two in the table.
A win for the Knight Riders will actually take them to the summit of the table while the Delhi Daredevils will move above them into second should they record a win of their own.
Delhi Daredevils
Delhi dropped their opening match this season when they should have chased a score down in Bangalore but collapsed to defeat late on but since then they haven’t looked back and they are a rare breed in this tournament in that they are one of a select few who don’t mind batting first and backing themselves to defend a total.
Most and more people are starting to appreciate the quality of their bowling attack although in fairness they are making people notice it. There is no respite at all. It is well led by Zaheer Khan and with senior men like Chris Morris and Pat Cummins standing up to be counted the bowling really takes the pressure off their batting.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata slipped up in their second match of the season in Mumbai but we shouldn’t necessarily hold that against them because few sides are able to defend a score at that venue as we have seen throughout the season since. They have won their other three matches fairly convincingly though and look the part now.
I was worried about their bowling attack heading into the tournament but slowly and surely that concern is disappearing as their spinners are really strangling sides and then teams are having to hit out at the seamers and lose shape and with it their wicket. Gautam Gambhir’s influence on this side is strong too.
Team News
Unless there is a late injury it is hard to see Delhi Daredevils making any change to a side that not only won last time out but destroyed the Kings XI.
Kolkata might decide to try another overseas option in place of Colin de Grandhomme who hasn’t really done a lot since his inclusion. Shakib-al-Hasan would be the obvious man to replace him.
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Betting
I have to admit I’m severely tempted to back Delhi Daredevils in this match but I would have liked them to be odds against. I’ve taken on the Kolkata Knight Riders a few times this season and my wallet is still hurting as a result so I’m going down the once bitten twice shy road here.
My main bet on the match comes in the sixes market where the line is 12.5. That looks quite high to me. There were only eight sixes here in the first match on this ground and the Kolkata bowling attack is better than the Kings XI one is.
There aren’t too many in the way of hitters around in this match at the top of either order and while someone could play a cameo down the innings I think on this larger ground and slower wicket it will take a lot more than that to surpass a dozen sixes in this match. I’m on the unders here.
I don’t know for sure if Shakib-al-Hasan will play in this match but if he does he has to have every chance of top scoring. Delhi Daredevils take wickets in batches at the top of the innings but it is only natural for them to ease up once the job is done and save themselves for other days. Should Shakib play he’ll bat fairly high up but rather than give his wicket away he might value it a little more to put up a significant contribution and keep his place, especially if the game has gone by then. At 9/1 he looks to be a legitimate top batsman chance.
Tips
WON – Back Under 12.5 sixes for a 5/10 stake at 1.75 with Betbright
Back it here:
VOID – Back S.al-Hasan Top Kolkata Knight Riders Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 10.00 with Bet365
Back him here:
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