The second half of the Indian Premier League double header on Monday afternoon comes from Pune and sees the Rising Pune Supergiant continue their quest for a place in the playoffs when they host Gujarat Lions in a match the visitors simply can’t afford to lose.
Rising Pune can make a significant move in the race for a top four place with a win here while Gujarat would fall six points adrift of that spot with just four games remaining were they to lose so this is almost must win for them.
Rising Pune Supergiant
After taking a while to sort out the issues of an overseas captain and most expensive player the Supergiant are now in really good form and could be considered dark horses to win this tournament from here. The impact that their Indian players are making has been significant and gives them every chance now.
There is a nice balance between bat and ball within the Rising Pune side at the minute. Dan Christian has been a big boost in that. He might not be the greatest cricketer known to man but he offers the sort of things that Pune were lacking earlier in the tournament and he delivers under pressure which is huge.
Gujarat Lions
The Lions head into this match off the back of a heart-breaking defeat in the super over to the Mumbai Indians on Saturday. Had they triumphed in that the pressure would have been off them a little more here but not only is the pressure on them here they have to get over such a mentally draining loss.
One of the reasons why the Gujarat side are in this position has been their bowling attack, or lack of one to be precise, and it remains to be seen what they can come up with in that department on a ground which has been high scoring throughout the tournament. They might have to lure Pune into a shootout and take their chances.
Team News
Ben Stokes has apparently recovered from his shoulder issue which kept him out of the last few matches and he is likely to replace Lockie Ferguson in the side for this one.
Gujarat Lions will have to bounce back from the disappointing news that Andrew Tye has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament. That could mean a return for Dwayne Smith.
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Betting
I’m going with two bets here. I’m not betting on the match outcome although I may well get on whoever chases as I think we are going to get a high scoring match and this isn’t the easiest ground to defend.
Given that I’m expecting the scoring to be high the obvious bet is for there to be more than 336.5 runs in the match. This is a high scoring ground as evidenced by the fact that the average first innings score here this season is 180.8 and with Gujarat’s bowling attack heavy dented by Tye’s absence you’ve got to think they can only compete in a shootout. Pune may not mind that so I’ll go with the overs on a low looking line.
With Andrew Tye now out of the tournament the Gujarat Lions are going to need someone else to lead their attack and it could be that the man who does the job is Basil Thampi. In Tye’s absence Thampi is the leading wicket taker for the Lions this season and given that he bowls at the beginning and end of the innings as in the slog overs he has the ability to pick up cheap wickets more than many others. At 4/1 he looks nicely priced to take advantage of the lack of Tye.
Tips
Back Over 336.5 total runs for a 5/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Back it here:
WON/DEAD HEAT – Back B.Thampi Top Gujarat Lions Bowler for a 2/10 stake at 5.00 with Boylesports
Back him here:
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