We have another double header of action in the Indian Premier League on Sunday with the opening match coming from Rajkot as the Gujarat Lions and the Kings XI Punjab meet for the second time this season.
The Lions won the first match between these two which was actually the opening game for the franchise and they will be out to complete the double over the Punjab team at home.
Gujarat Lions
The Lions have blown clear at the top of the table as we begin to enter the second half of the season. They have only lost one out of seven matches so far this season and go into this match with a four point lead at the top, a lead they can extend to six points temporarily should they win this game.
Their batting continues to impress, even more so since Dwayne Smith came into the side and the variety they have with the ball has allowed them to dominate matches although of their six wins only one has come when they have batted first so that could be a slight concern.
Kings XI Punjab
If it is all going well for the Lions it couldn’t be going much worse for the Kings XI as they have won just one of their opening six matches and that was enough for the hierarchy to relieve David Miller of his captaincy duties. If Miller retains his place they will hope the freedom of not having the captaincy burden will generate a much higher run output.
It isn’t just with the bat that the Kings XI have been useless this season. In fact that has probably been their better discipline but with the ball they have been shocking and that is going to have to change if they are to launch a late tilt at the playoffs.
Team news
Aaron Finch is fit again now but with Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum batting so well together it remains to be seen if he can get back into the side. James Faulkner hasn’t delivered a huge amount in the tournament yet so Finch could replace him but that does affect the balance of the team.
Who knows how the Kings XI will line up now they have a new captain. David Miller’s place is definitely under threat and Farhaan Behardien could replace him should they wish. Mitchell Johnson has looked flat in this tournament so Kyle Abbott could get a return to the starting line up.
Form
Gujarat Lions: WWWLWWW
Kings XI Punjab: LLWLLL
Head to head: Gujarat Lions 1-0 Kings XI Punjab
In Rajkot: First meeting
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium
This is the penultimate match on this ground this year. We’ve already had three matches here this season. The first two weren’t as high scoring as they could have been had the team batting first done so better but we saw in the last match on this ground the potential the place has for runs.
In fairness this is a high scoring ground traditionally and if the Kings XI batsmen can step up to the mark I’m expecting another one here. We’ve seen plenty of sixes here in the tournament to date and I would imagine that theme will continue as well.
Betting
On all known form lines you’ve got to think the Lions will win this match but they are priced short enough accordingly and I see no real need to back them from the start especially given their scratchy record should they be forced to bat first. If Kings XI are going to do anything it will be here under a different captain so the match betting has a trappy feel to it.
That leads me to the side markets and based on what we’ve seen in recent matches the obvious one to go to is the Gujarat Lions’ first six overs run line. The line is 48.5 which looks very low indeed.
In their last three matches Gujarat have put up powerplay totals of 72, 71 and 72 so they have so much to spare it is untrue. I see no reason why that is going to change here because they have a batting line up which tees off whatever the situation and in Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum and Suresh Raina they have three of the most aggressive batsmen in the IPL batting in the powerplay for them.
In the reverse fixture between these two Brendon McCullum was out without scoring second ball and the Lions still stuck up a six over score of 57/2 and that just shows how low this line is. I’m firmly on the overs here on what is a perfect decent batting deck.
Tips
Back Gujarat Lions’ 1st 6 overs – Over 48.5 runs for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Coral
Back it here:
