The second match of Monday’s Indian Premier League double header and the final game of the Easter period comes from Hyderabad as the defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad continue their title defence when they host the Kings XI Punjab.
Both these sides have hit a sticky patch at the minute so they will both be eager to get a victory in this match which could lift them away from the rut they are in and relaunch their campaigns which should make for a good game of cricket.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
To be fair to the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Mumbai Indians and the Kolkata Knight Riders they have lost to a couple of decent outfits. Both those sides are towards the top of the table so there is no shame in losing to them but there could be the odd concern in how they have lost to them because their batting has lacked the necessary oomph.
That is beginning to get pressure to their bowling attack with the likes of Ashish Nehra and Ben Cutting beginning to go around the park. That is something the need to arrest quickly whether that is a change in game plans or a move in personnel. They could do with someone in their middle order finding form too.
Kings XI Punjab
I guess you can say the same thing about the Kings XI Punjab in terms of them being beaten by a couple of decent sides in the Delhi Daredevils and the Kolkata Knight Riders. Their issue too will be the way they have lost and especially a sudden search for a settled order rather than believing in what they had.
Kings XI’s death bowling has been a major problem all tournament and they still haven’t found a combination that stems the run flow at the end of the innings with the ball. Inevitably that is putting pressure on their batting line up and now they are searching for their best side which is never a good position to be in.
Team News
There is talk of Mustafizur Rahman coming back into the fold for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. If he is to come in you would think it has to be for Ben Cutting. Chris Jordan is another option in his place.
Kings XI have started changing everything in a bid to find their best balance. Eoin Morgan got a game in the last match but you would think one of Martin Guptill or Shaun Marsh is their best bet.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
I can understand why the Sunrisers Hyderabad are favourites for this match but with too many of their batsmen just beginning to lose some form I actually have a gut feeling the Kings XI Punjab might get over the line here. It isn’t a strong enough feeling to act on though.
I will play the boundaries here though. I’m not expecting a high scoring match here. It feels a bit more important than just a normal match and with Sunrisers’ batting struggling and their depth in question but with their bowling attack usually solid I fancy a lower scoring game than normal.
Neither side are easy to hit to the boundary for the most part in the innings so the 40.5 boundaries line looks to represent the reputations of the batsmen here rather than the form. I’ll go with the unders here.
I’m going to try a couple of big priced top batsmen too. Both sides suddenly look vulnerable at the top of the innings. Sunrisers’ batting might have more joy in the middle order where the Kings XI’s death bowling can be exposed so Ben Cutting looks a huge price at 20/1 if he plays whereas Axar Patel top scored for the Kings XI last time out and if he is sent up to get at Rashid Khan he could provide good value at 18/1 where he could bat as high as three or four.
Tips
WON – Back Under 40.5 boundaries for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with William Hill
Back it here:
VOID – Back B.Cutting Top Sunrisers Hyderabad Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 21.00 with Skybet
Back him here:
Back A.Patel Top Kings XI Punjab Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 with NetBet
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
