The opening match of the final Indian Premier League double header this Bank Holiday weekend comes from Mumbai as the table topping chasing Mumbai Indians take on the only side already eliminated from the competition in the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
When the season began this would have looked one of the standout fixtures of the campaign but in reality it doesn’t carry quite the appeal given the struggles of last year’s beaten finalists.
Mumbai Indians
For the first time in this campaign Mumbai Indians were guilty of losing focus in their previous match against the Gujarat Lions. Having bowled brilliantly and got themselves into a position to cruise to victory they took their eye off the ball and in the end had to fall over the line. Luckily for them they won but that would certainly have focused their minds here.
One of the things that Mumbai pride themselves on under Mahela Jayawardena is their preparation with everyone knowing their roles and taking responsibility for the situation so they will have been disappointed that they didn’t do that against Gujarat but the rest of their game looked in decent order.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
You have to feel for the Royal Challengers as they have tried almost everything to find a combination that fires with the bat but whatever they have done they just can’t get something to click and you would think they are going to struggle for that spark now that they officially can’t make the playoffs this season.
I’ve been guilty of thinking that their situation would go the other way and they would come out firing but the simple truth of it is too many players are out of form and are carrying too much mental baggage. That is sad to see for such a star studded side and while they might be better for it long term the tournament this year isn’t.
Team News
Mumbai Indians might consider changing Mitchell McClenaghan after he went for 50 in the last match but they are not a side who panic with one bad performance so I’d expect them to be unchanged.
Royal Challengers Bangalore keep on searching for the right combination. I would imagine the latest move would be to bring Shane Watson back into the fold to see if he is the answer.
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Betting
It is difficult to see anything other than a Mumbai Indians win in this match regardless of the fact that the ground is difficult to defend. Bangalore just aren’t batting well enough to provide any sign of hope for them going into this match.
Mumbai are too short to back for the match even allowing for their likely chances of winning but they are not too short to hit the most sixes. They did that in the reverse fixture when Bangalore were batting better than they are now and given how hard their bowling attack is to get away for a form side let alone one out of form I’ve got to think Mumbai have the edge in the six hitting here. Even money to hit the most sixes looks good to me.
Mitchell McClenaghan went for plenty in the last round but he rarely has two bad matches in a row and if he bounces back here then his poor performance might benefit him when it comes to the man of the match award. In Bangalore he took 1/20 from his four overs and if he can restrict the Royal Challengers again and add a couple more wickets to his figures he could well land the match honours. If Mumbai end up chasing a low total the chances of it going to an Indians bowler would be high so why not the Kiwi at a decent price. He is their leading wicket taker after all.
Tips
Back Mumbai Indians Most 6s for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Titanbet
Back them here:
Back M.McClenaghan Man of the Match for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with Betfair
Back him here:
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