The second half of the double header of action in the Indian Premier League on Saturday sees us heading back to Dubai for the clash between the former champions Chennai Super Kings and the team who are so often the nearly men in Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Both these teams have struggled a little in the early stages of the competition and are in need of a win to revive their campaign and start up some form which can see them make a move for the top four over the season half of the season.
Chennai Super Kings
Fans of the Chennai Super Kings would have been hoping that their emphatic 10 wicket victory over the Kings XI Punjab a couple of matches ago would have kicked their season into life but immediately it is being made to look like the rare bright spot in their season as they immediately fell back to type against the Kolkata Knight Riders last time out. That was another match in which their middle order continued to struggle.
That has been an issue for the Super Kings throughout the tournament and it should therefore come as no surprise that their only win since the opening match of the event came when their middle order wasn’t used. They really need to sort that out whether it is a change of order or having to make a personnel switch. The other thing they need is their spinners to perform better. It remains a mystery how Imran Tahir can’t get a game for this lot.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
They haven’t always been convincing but the Royal Challengers Bangalore do have three wins from their first five matches and have a platform to build on. They have stolen a couple of wins it has to be said and when they have been off their best they have been terrible as defeats of 97 runs and 59 runs would suggest but one of those losses was against the Delhi Capitals who are looking stronger each and every time they take to the field.
The big concern for the Royal Challengers is their bowling attack. Three times in their five matches they have shipped more than 190 and that isn’t great when you consider they have their own middle order struggles should teams make it through their top three relatively quickly. It would be a surprise if Bangalore don’t bring Chris Morris in here as he would help out in the areas they are at their weakest – the lower order with the bat and at the death with the ball.
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Key Men
There aren’t many players who have shown form in this Chennai Super Kings side outside the opening pair but Ravi Jadeja is one of them. They should think about pushing him up the order to ignite the middle overs a little bit.
Everything comes into a left-hander from a bowling point of view for Chennai so Moeen Ali could be a key man for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they attempt to combat that and propel their score to something big.
Betting
I’m not expecting a high scoring classic here I have to say. Only once in the tournament have Bangalore made more than 160 and the only time Chennai have hit 170 or more in the tournament outside of Sharjah came against a terrible Kings XI bowling attack when they didn’t use their middle order players. Both these middle orders are struggling and both are very reliant on their top three to score big runs and I never like that in T20 cricket.
That makes me think that the 340.5 runs line is a little on the high side here. There is enough in both bowling attacks to keep their opening pair in check and get the pressure building and if wickets do fall regularly then we know the scoring will slow down because there is nobody outside the top fours of these two teams scoring runs, apart from Ravi Jadeja and Chennai look reluctant to send him in at a place where he can make the difference. I’ll take under 340.5 here.
Tips
WON – Back Under 340.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.95 with Betway
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