FRIDAY IPL: The Edge previews Lucknow Super Giants v Chennai Super Kings with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Lucknow Super Giants v Chennai Super Kings
The IPL continues as Lucknow Super Giants host Chennai Super Kings on Friday in Lucknow on Betdaq Betting Exchange . We’re edging closer to the business end of the group stage now, and CSK will surely view this as a must win game against weak opposition if they want to try and sneak into the playoffs. After losing their first three games the alarms bells were ringing in Chennai – especially after last season too – but in fairness to them they have knuckled down and played some good cricket. They have won their last three, and they are just on the edge of that top four with 12 points from 11 games, while Lucknow are rooted to the bottom of the table with just 6 points from their 11 games.
The IPL season always throws out some random events, and this is actually a back-to-back fixture for the sides having met on Sunday in Chennai. Urvil Patel produced the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history off just 13 balls as CSK chased down 203 with an over to spare to win by five wickets. There hasn’t been much to cheer about for Lucknow recently – they’ve lost seven of their last eight games. Their season has been a tale of woe more than anything else. Obviously they have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, but not a realistic one – especially given the cricket they’ve played with a a bowling attack that has leaked runs, particularly away from home.
Being at home will obviously be a benefit, however you have to ask the question that is the reason they haven’t leaked so many runs at home because of the more difficult batting conditions in Lucknow! CSK come into this game in decent shape, and as I said above, you’d have to view this as a must win game for them for their playoff chances.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
This is a very different ground to many of the big scoring IPL venues. Lucknow is well known as a bowler friendly surface – it is slower in nature with variable pace, and the pitch assists spinners particularly as the game progresses. However that being said, we did see a 200+ score in the last game here; that is rare though. The first inning scores have been 141 all out (chased), 164/8 (chased), 159/6 (won), 155/7 (tied) and 209/3 (won). Unless we get a heavy dew which ould be a factor later in the innings, potentially aiding the chasing side as the ball becomes slippery and harder for bowlers to grip, it’s hard to see very easy batting conditions as we tend to get at most IPL venues these days.
RECOMMENDED BET:
CSK are the clearly superior side this season and it’s no surprise to see them come into the game as the favourites. They also just beat Lucknow a few days ago; the Lucknow conditions might theoretically bring things slightly closer, but I still feel the 1.86 on CSK offers a little value. CSK’s bowling has been excellent all season, and their batters have the nous to adapt. Lucknow just have had no momentum this IPL, and while their bowling attack might benefit from being at home, I feel their batting will struggle against this CSK attack. I do feel this is a game for small stakes though.
The Edge Says:
One point win Chennai Super Kings to beat Lucknow Super Giants at 1.86 with Betdaq Betting Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/IPLuCh
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Lucknow is one of those grounds where the in-running strategy is genuinely different to most IPL venues. As noted above, this is not a ground where you want to be on the batters regardless of who is swinging – 200+ scores have become almost common in the IPL, but not here – granted the last game saw 200+ scored here! Generally, the bowlers are your friends at Lucknow from a trading point of view. I would go into this game with an open mind though considering the last game. I do feel though we’ll get most market movement taking on the Lucknow batting here against the CSK bowling, whatever innings that comes in.
