There is one more match in the Indian Premier League on Friday before we head back to the double headers over the weekend and this one comes from the City of Joy as the Kolkata Knight Riders entertain the Gujarat Lions.
These two have already played this season in a match where the Knight Riders absolutely annihilated the Lions by 10 wickets in next to no time at all with Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn belting the ball to all parts.
Kolkata Knight Riders
That was one of four wins from five matches for the Knight Riders to begin their season. I have to say I’ve not been completely convinced by them at all times but you can’t argue with their results. They might have edged home in a couple of games but that is the sign of a good side when they can perform under pressure.
I still think the Knight Riders are searching for their best combination with the ball and I don’t think the sudden change in surface at Eden Gardens is helping them in that regard. I’m sure they would want to get another spinner into the side but the wicket has been favouring the seamers which negates that somewhat.
Gujarat Lions
It goes without saying that the Gujarat Lions haven’t found their feet in this tournament yet. They only have one win in five matches and they need to find back to back wins sooner rather than later if they are to get themselves away from the foot of the table and back into and above the pack which is where they want to be.
Their fault has been obvious. Their bowling attack has gone the distance in every game that they have played, none more so than when they faced Kolkata the first time around, and that has put pressure on their batting line up which they haven’t been able to handle. For me their batting order has been all wrong too.
Team News
Throughout this tournament Kolkata have been switching between Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav and it remains to be seen which of the two will play here. Shakib-al-Hasan might need to wait his turn now that Nathan Coulter-Nile made such an impression.
Gujarat Lions are praying for the day Dwayne Bravo returns to the side to balance it out a bit but that day doesn’t appear to be here yet. Jason Roy is waiting on the side for a chance.
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Betting
I’ve no interest in betting in the match odds for this match. I say that because I’m pretty confident that with both bowling attacks struggling and dew set to come in during the second innings that whoever bowls first will win the game. They will certainly have an artificial aid in doing so at least.
That means it is off to the side markets for a bet in this one and I’m going with the total runs here. The pace and bounce in this wicket might suit the bowlers but it won’t hinder the batsmen too much either and I expect the boundaries to flow just like they did in the first match between these two. Both top sixes hit lots of boundaries so I’m expecting a high scoring match and one which can soar past a low looking 334.5 total runs line.
While I don’t think Colin de Grandhomme is an opener long term Kolkata Knight Riders clearly don’t want to move back to opening with Robin Uthappa so there is no reason why the Kiwi won’t get another go at opening the batting. Gujarat are terrible at getting wickets in the powerplay so unless he does something daft you would think de Grandhomme would get himself in and playing on small New Zealand grounds he’ll know how to go big once he is in. At 12/1 he’s worth chancing here.
Tips
WON – Back Over 334.5 total runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
VOID – Back C.de Grandhomme Top Kolkata Knight Riders Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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