The second leg of the Indian Premier League double header on Saturday sees two of the bottom three in the IPL 2023 table meeting when the Delhi Capitals play host to the Punjab Kings in a game neither have the option of losing.
It might be that the Delhi Capitals already need snookers if they are going to make the top four but the Punjab Kings are still in with every chance, although they are going to need to win their last three matches in order to do so.
Delhi Capitals
With just four wins from 11 matches and with fourth place already on 12 points it looks like the race has been run for the Delhi Capitals this season. If the points are against them in the table so too is the net run rate. Theirs is the worst in the competition so even if 14 points is enough to finish fourth, and that would look unlikely at this stage, the Capitals are going to need some incredible wins to sort out the disadvantage they have in the run rate.
I think it is fair to say it isn’t going to happen so it will be interesting to see if Delhi look to their younger Indian players to see who can take them forward in the future. The one thing you would think has to happen is they need an overseas bowler to take them forward. We saw in the last match that four overseas batters is fine but they soon get exposed with the ball, especially at the end of the innings, and they paid the price.
Punjab Kings
Usually it is 16 points which is needed for the final spot in the playoffs and if the Punjab Kings win out from here that is the total they will reach. Unfortunately for them, their run rate is also very weak so tey are going to need to do a bit of a repair job to that while winning these three matches if they are going to extend their season. The good thing is that it is realistically possible to do that even if their inconsistency so far would make that look unlikely.
If the Kings are going to come up with three victories then they are going to need to come across their best bowling unit and then that attack is going to need to step up and be counted. Even if they are able to put three 200+ scores on the board, their run rate will be vulnerable unless their bowlers can start restricting the opposition. It is at the death where they have been surprisingly weak and that just has to improve.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account and bet £10 to get up to £20 in free bets! Perfect offer for IPL 2023! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Key Players
Mitchell Marsh is getting used in a lot of key positions for the Delhi Capitals. We are still waiting for that truly brutal innings from him with the bat but if that comes here then added to his bowling resource he will be a big player for the home side.
At some point in the remainder of this tournament the Punjab Kings are going to need a blitz from Liam Livingstone, not just to win the match that it comes in, but also to do enough damage that the net run rate gets a boost.
Betting
We often get to the latter stages of seasons in these competitions and bets show their hand to us and I think we have that here because winning isn’t the only intention of these two teams, they have to look to win as well as they can and repair the damage that has been done to their net run rate. I was kind of leaning towards sixes being hit here anyway based on the last two matches at this venue but that caveat adds to my liking of the sixes.
The line for this match is 13.5 sixes which doesn’t feel particularly high anyway. There is every chance that Delhi will go into this match with four overseas batters and there will be a couple in the Punjab ranks as well, some of which are huge hitters in the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Rilee Rossouw and Liam Livingstone in particular. The two Delhi spinners have been good this season but these attacks aren’t the best and when you put it all together and what they need from the game, 14 sixes feels within range.
Tips
Back Over 13.5 sixes for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2023
