We go back to Dubai on Thursday for the Indian Premier League offering as the Rajasthan Royals meet the Sunrisers Hyderabad in what is a big game for the play-off prospects of both teams as we head towards the conclusion of the league phase.
These two teams are two of the four sides currently outside the play-off zone in the current table but a win for Rajasthan will move them up to fourth and a victory for the Sunrisers will move them to within two points of Kolkata, who fill the final postseason spot at present.
Rajasthan Royals
After a bit of an up and down period, the Rajasthan Royals go into this match having won their previous outing and will be looking for successive victories which will propel them into the top four and set them up to have control of their own destiny. With just three matches remaining after this one that is the situation they crave, and with one more good performance they are likely to have that as they are beginning to look more settled by the match.
Rajasthan are really beginning to get it together with the bat and the move to drop Jos Buttler down the order lengthens the batting and plays to the strengths of so many other players in the team. That is taking the pressure off the bowlers and they are responding in kind. Jofra Archer has been a revelation throughout the competition but now the likes of Shreyas Gopal and Rahul Tewatia are taking advantage of the slower conditions. Things are coming together nicely for the Royals.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Things are beginning to get a little desperate for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. They go into this match off the back of one win in their last five matches and now they look set to be without Kane Williamson for this contest after he picked up an injury in the previous game. That meant he went up to open the batting which actually lengthened the line up but his likely absence in this encounter means that regardless of who replaces him a light looking batting line up will inevitably be weaker.
The real problem for the Sunrisers in this indifferent spell is none of their bowlers are truly delivering the goods. They have been able to get themselves out of trouble in the past by Rashid Khan being economical and taking key wickets but even his impact is beginning to soften. If the Sunrisers are going to push for the postseason then they are going to need him to come good, especially with conditions moving more in his favour from here on in.
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Key Men
Jos Buttler has been the highest scorer for the Rajasthan Royals this season. Not only does he score plenty of runs but he does it at a rate that takes so much pressure off his colleagues. If he gets in anf gets going the Royals will be tough to beat here.
Assuming Jofra Archer opens the bowling and continues to have the wood over Dave Warner, Jonny Bairstow is going to be a key man for the Sunrisers here. Bairstow has only passed 50 once in his last six innings. Now would be a good time for another.
Betting
Sunrisers Hyderabad have a few too many issues for my liking going into this match so I’m with the Rajasthan Royals here. The statistic that I think is most important here is the one that Sunrisers Hyderabad have not won a single match in this competition chasing. I’m not surprised by that because their batting depth just isn’t there but I’m not sure I’d be backing them to defend a score either with the way their bowlers are getting clouted at the minute.
Actually the Rajasthan Royals beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad by chasing down a score in their previous innings when Rahul Tewatia got after Rashid Khan and that in particular shows the difference in batting depth between the two sides. In an ideal world Sanju Samson will be scoring more runs but there are enough batsmen in form for the Royals to get a score on the board and if Jofra Archer’s opening spell gets through the openers the Sunrisers will be fighting for a score. It all points to a Rajasthan win to me.
Tips
Back Rajasthan Royals to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Bet365
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