It is do or die for the Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. They take on the Kolkata Knight Riders knowing that their season is on the line in Mohali. They must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. Defeat and their season is over.
One crumb of comfort the Kings XI might be able to draw on is that Kolkata Knight Riders are already secured of a playoff spot and we saw Mumbai look flat on Monday with that secured. A win for the Knight Riders could send them top.
Kings XI Punjab
Kings XI looked to get things into a position where their playoff spot was in their own hands although you had the feeling that at some point the pressure of having to win might get to them and it duly did last time out against the Gujarat Lions. The Punjab side got away with a poor performance the match before against Bangalore but lightning couldn’t strike twice.
If the Kings XI are to win this match not only are they going to have to handle the pressure much better but they are going to have to bat better in the early stages of an innings. Slow starts in their last two matches have only piled on the anxiety and when they are playing opposition who can play with freedom that isn’t good.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Kolkata Knight Riders ended a two game losing streak last time out when they obliterated Royal Challengers Bangalore last time out. The key to that win over the two defeats was a more solid looking batting line up. Robin Uthappa missed both the defeats and he was clearly a big loss which they overcame in the last match.
They would argue, with some justification it has to be said, that although they lost their two matches prior to Sunday’s emphatic win that they ran into a couple of obscene innings which put paid to their chances so they shouldn’t have been too concerned. I’m sure the bowling group would have got together to avoid repeats going forward.
Team News
There is no Hashim Amla or David Miller for the Kings XI in the tournament any more. Eoin Morgan is coming back to the tournament but won’t be back in time for this match so Darren Sammy could get a season bow.
Kolkata Knight Riders are still unsure about the availability of Robin Uthappa but Chris Lynn appears to be fine. Nathan Coulter-Nile faces a fitness test ahead of the contest.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
It is the Kings XI Punjab who have to win this match but it is the Kolkata Knight Riders who I think will win it. When they have had a sizeable compliment of batting power at their disposal this season they have won cricket matches and Chris Lynn’s return certainly helps with that. Kolkata won the reverse meeting with plenty of balls to spare and while the Kings XI have improved with the ball we saw a vulnerable still exists there last time out.
Hashim Amla is a massive loss to this Kings XI side. He has been their biggest run scorer this season and the one who not only sets the tempo but also the one they all bat around and if nobody steps up and plays that role the Punjab team could crumble so I’m with Kolkata here.
Given the absence of Hashim Amla I just wonder if it is time for Axar Patel to be shifted up the order for a bit of slap and tickle again. If it is then he is an insane price at 25/1 to top score for the home side. We saw in Bangalore recently how well he is hitting the ball so wherever he bats he wouldn’t be without a chance of top scoring. The higher he bats the better but either way he looks a big price.
Tips
Back Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Kings XI Punjab for a 4/10 stake at 1.85 with Bwin
Back them here:
Back A.Patel Top Kings XI Punjab Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 26.00 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
