We are back to the single matches in the Indian Premier League on Monday and the offering to begin another week of action is the derby between Mumbai Indians and the Rising Pune Supergiant at the Wankhede.
The match sees the table toppers taking on a side who are suddenly looking like having a chance of a playoff spot so the two points are very valuable in this clash not just the bragging rights.
Mumbai Indians
In the opening match of the season the Mumbai Indians lost to the Rising Pune Supergiant but since then they have gone on a run of six wins on the bounce and are looking for an amazing seventh win in succession. At this stage of the tournament they look very much like the team to beat but doing it in the groups can be different to doing it when it matters.
Mumbai’s bowling attack hasn’t always restricted opponents this season but they have taken wickets and they have held their nerve at the death. Their batting line up started off a bit slowly but they have all come to the party since then and now there is no discernible weakness in their side at the present time.
Rising Pune Supergiant
It has been a season of ups and downs for the Supergiant side but they had an up last time out when an MS Dhoni masterclass got them over the line against the much fancied Sunrisers Hyderabad. His return to form could well have come at an ideal time and if he goes on and plays like he can for the rest of the season Pune could yet be players.
If Pune are to make it into the top four and go deeper than that then they will have to make sure their bowling attack continues to deliver the goods. They are getting better in that discipline with every passing game which bodes well but it doesn’t take much to bring out a setback and a referral back to type.
Team News
Mumbai Indians were without Lasith Malinga in their last match as he was ill. Mitchell Johnson replaced him and bowled well but they could rotate if Mumbai wanted to change things.
It is hard to see why Rising Pune would make any changes after a win last time out but Faf du Plessis was seen to be working hard in practice. Who he would come in for isn’t immediately obvious.
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Betting
As ever with the Wankhede I’m reluctant to get too stuck into the match betting here because this isn’t the easiest ground to defend even though the wicket doesn’t look to be quite as good as it has done in previous campaigns.
I’m heading to the sixes market for a bet on this one. Usually in this tournament I have weighed into the overs but on a 14.5 line here I’m actually taking the unders. I say that because the totals of sixes here so far have been 15, 9, 14 and 6 with the one that went over being against Kolkata Knight Riders when Manish Pandey went berserk.
Since then this line hasn’t been covered and with the seamers on both sides looking good and mixing things up nicely I’m expecting a bit of a lower scoring match than we might normally get and one in which under 14.5 sixes remains without a threat.
Tips
WON – Back Under 14.5 sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Skybet
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