The second half of what is an important double header of action in the Indian Premier League on Saturday comes from Hyderabad as the table topping Sunrisers Hyderabad host the Kolkata Knight Riders in a huge match for the visitors.
Sunrisers go into the match knowing they will be getting two shots at making the final next week whatever happens in this one but Kolkata Knight Riders will only definitely be in the playoffs with a win here. If they lose they become sitting ducks in the postseason race.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
After an absolutely fantastic beginning to the season things have fallen a little flat for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in recent times. Having won nine of their opening 11 matches in the competition they have now lost their last two and they will not want to go into next week with three defeats in a row to their name.
Their bowling, which for so much of the season was the thing that got them over the line in matches, has all of a sudden started to take a hiding and as a result they have been unable to continue winning. If there is a positive to come from recent matches it is that their batting have been scoring big runs which hasn’t always been the case this term.
Kolkata Knight Riders
For too much of this season the Kolkata Knight Riders were struggling to find any consistency whatsoever but all of a sudden they have won four of their last sixes matches to keep their destiny in their own hands. A win here will book them a spot in the eliminator next week. They may still be fine with a defeat but their net run rate leaves them vulnerable.
One reason for their recent run of form is that their spinners are starting to turn the screw on the opposition. That wasn’t happening in the early stages of the competition and if they go well again here then you would think the Knight Riders will have half the battle won. What they don’t need is for Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn to both fall early though.
Team News
I don’t think we’ll be seeing Basil Thampi in this match. There is a school of thought that when a bowler goes around the park he gets the chance to put it right but when you go for 70 in four overs you won’t be seen in a while. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the obvious man to replace him.
I would expect to see an unchanged Kolkata Knight Riders line up unless they feel the slower conditions would benefit the bowling style of Tom Curran in which case he could return to the side.
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Betting
I’m going to chance the Sunrisers Hyderabad in this match. I think they will get serious again and there is no question in my eyes that they are the best side in this competition. They have fiddled around with what they have wanted to in order to get time in the middle for everyone but now they will want to win again.
Kolkata Knight Riders have to win and that pressure is not always easy to cope with and while Sunrisers will want to win they will be able to play with a little more freedom. Only Chennai have beaten the Sunrisers here and they’ve had the wood on them for a while. It might not be convincing but if the Sunrisers play to their best they’ll have enough here.
Tips
Back Sunrisers Hyderabad to beat Kolkata Knight Riders for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with Bet365
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