We head back to the Feroz Shah Kotla in the Indian Premier League on Thursday as the Delhi Capitals take on the former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in a match which could have big implications on the table later in the campaign.
Both these sides head into the match on two wins for the season so the winners will give themselves a good chance of making it into the play-offs. There is probably more pressure on the home side as they have played a match more.
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Delhi Capitals
Delhi are 2-2 for their season which on reflection is probably about right but they must still be wondering how they threw their last match away against the Kings XI Punjab from what looked like an unassailable position. At one stage they needed 23 off 21 balls with seven wickets in hand but a collapse like no other a couple of overs later and they didn’t even threaten the target.
What will really concern the Capitals, is that was not the first time that has happened. They were cruising against Kolkata in the match prior to that and ended up having to survive a super over. That has been a shame for them actually because if they could have held their nerve they would be in a fantastic position. That is the test for them over the rest of the campaign.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Sunrisers go into this match off the back of one of the more dominant, emphatic wins we have ever seen in the Indian Premier League. They absolutely destroyed the Royal Challengers Bangalore to move to two wins from their three matches. It is actually successive wins for the former winners of the tournament as they dropped their opening game when they ran into an Andre Russell blitz.
It hasn’t been completely plain sailing for the Sunrisers through and I would imagine that they have a couple of concerns heading into this match. They haven’t been as clinical at the death as we would have expected them to be and their top three has taken up so much of the bowling thus far that the middle order could be lacking form and rhythm.
Team News
Delhi Capitals don’t need to change too much in their set up, it is more a mental thing with them. They might want to bring another spinner into their ranks in these conditions though so Avesh Khan could be vulnerable.
Sunrisers Hyderabad will be testing the fitness of their captain Kane Williamson here although Mohammad Nabi went so well in the win over Bangalore that it would open up a selection dilemma if he is fit as the other three overseas players are locked in.
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Betting
Both these sides have concerns about them going into the match but I think the Delhi Capitals one is much easier to solve. They just simply need one of their experienced heads to stand up and take some responsibility and I’m sure that having lost twice because nobody stood up and took on the mantle I expect the penny to have dropped and someone will do it here.
With that in mind I’m backing the home side here. The key to winning as well as holding their nerve is to get through the opening pair as quickly as possible. Sunrisers’ opening pair aren’t going to be able to hit through the line on this sluggish pitch like they have been able to so far in the tournament and if one, or worse still both, of the openers fall early, which against Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris and Sandeep Lamichhane they could easily do, then there are questions whether the middle order is good enough or going well enough to get them out of trouble. If someone from Delhi is prepared to bat until the end, the Sunrisers’ bowling at the death has been exposed so there is more to like about the home side than the visitors here if they keep Warner and Bairstow in check. At odds against Delhi will do for me.
Tips
Back Delhi Capitals to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad for a 4/10 stake at 2.15 with Betfair
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