The first of three elimination matches to conclude the Indian Premier League season takes place in Delhi on Wednesday when the Sunrisers Hyderabad take on the Kolkata Knight Riders for a place in Friday’s semi-final against the Gujarat Lions.
The equation is very simple for these two sides. They are playing knockout cricket from here on in. There are no second chances anymore. Win and you progress. Lose and it is time to board the flights home for the year.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Sunrisers led the field with a couple of matches to go in the season but they couldn’t get either of the wins they needed to ensure a top two finish and ultimately ended up having to settle for third in the table and face knockout cricket.
The reasons for failing to finishing strongly were two fold really. Their middle order hasn’t contributed collectively and their bowling has suddenly stopped being the lights out attack it was earlier in the season. Both things will need to change if they are to win here and go on to win the title.
Kolkata Knight Riders
The Knight Riders have already played one knockout match this season just to make the playoffs and as luck would have it that match came against this opposition on Sunday. In that game Kolkata were 22 runs too good which should be good for their confidence.
Kolkata’s bowling has come back to form in recent times and with their batting generally sticking up competitive totals the 2014 champions look to be getting into a position by where they can regain their title on Sunday.
Team news
The overseas batting spot is up for grabs for Sunrisers. Dave Warner, Moises Henriques and Mustafizur Rahman are booked in for three of the places with Kane Williamson and Eoin Morgan expected to be considered for the other spot.
Andre Russell has missed the last two matches with injury but there is a chance he could feature here. He will surely replace Jason Holder if he is fit to play while Colin Munro may be replaced by Morne Morkel. Piyush Chawla is hoping to play too.
Form
Sunrisers Hyderabad: LLWWWLWWWWLWLL
Kolkata Knight Riders: WLWWWLLWWLWLLW
Head to head: Sunrisers Hyderabad 2-6 Kolkata Knight Riders
In Delhi: First meeting
Feroz Shah Kotla
The tournament returns to the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi for the next two matches. Delhi were forced to move their final two home matches away from this ground so there is every chance we will get a completely fresh wicket which should provide a bit for the batsmen.
Wickets on this ground previously have turned a little bit and have needed the batsmen to generate their own power to get success. The boundaries are fairly short though which is one assistance for the batsman and if the track plays well we should see an entertaining game of cricket here.
Betting
I’m already on the Kolkata Knight Riders outright so I need them to win three matches but I quite like their chances here I must admit. I suspect the Sunrisers have run their race and if Kolkata keep control of Dave Warner and Shikhar Dhawan the doorway to success could be flung open.
In matches gone by the Sunrisers were able to rely on their attack and us punters could bank on that unit but that is no longer the case which is more than a concern and puts me off taking the third placed finishers in the league table.
When these two met in Kolkata on Sunday the Knight Riders were far too good even without Andre Russell. With the West Indian expected to return to the fold here the former champions look even stronger and if this is a typical Delhi wicket then those conditions should really suit Kolkata’s attack.
I’m going to side with Kolkata here who I feel are a side for the big occasion and are nicely balanced unlike the Sunrisers who rely far too much on far too few a set of individuals.
Tips
Back Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad for a 4/10 stake at 1.87 with Boylesports
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