FRIDAY IPL: The Edge previews Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Sunrisers Hyderabad v Royal Challengers Bengaluru
MATCH OVERVIEW:
We’re getting very close to the end of the IPL group stage now, and we have saved one of the best for last on Betdaq Betting Exchange . Sunrisers Hyderabad host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Hyderabad on Friday with the stakes very high. Both sides are through to the playoffs – that’s done and dusted now – but the race for those all important top two spots is absolutely alive. We all know what a massive advantage it is to finish in those top two positions, giving you two bites at the cherry to reach the final. RCB sit top of the table on 18 points and their net run rate has them in a strong position – however a loss here and a win for Gujarat Titans would leave three sides on 18 points.
There’s very little between Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad on net run rate, and Sunrisers Hyderabad will have the slight advantage of knowing how Gujarat Titans performed on Thursday before playing here. You could have a situation, if Gujarat Titans lose, where Sunrisers Hyderabad are in a situation where they can lose with a view to controlling their net run rate. That gets a bit complicated to play cricket like that though! RCB have been the team of the tournament – nine wins from thirteen games is a remarkable record and they have been the classiest side in the competition from start to finish. Virat Kohli has been in sensational form all season, reaching 500 IPL runs for a record ninth time, and the bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam been very impressive.
You also have to consider that RCB could be certain of a top two finish before this game starts, depending on the Gujarat Titans results, so we might see changes to the starting line-up. That’s something to watch. This should be a cracking game though between two sides playing good cricket – RCB won a cracker on the opening night of the tournament at the Chinnaswamy, chasing down 202 with 26 balls to spare.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Hyderabad in May is baking hot, and we will have the evening dew to contend with which is never good news for the bowlers. This has become one of the highest scoring venues in the IPL in recent years. The square boundaries are around 66-68 metres, the outfield is lightning fast, and the pitch is flat, hard and true with excellent carry. High scores have been the norm here throughout this tournament – we have already seen 242/2 posted here this season, and last season saw 286/6 posted and 245/6 chased down! The first inning scores this season have been 156/9 (chased), 216/6 (won), 194/9 (won), 242/2 (won), 165 all out (chased) and 235/4 (won). We might have the odd collapse, but the conditions will be excellent for batting.
RECOMMENDED BET:
You’d have to keep stakes low here before seeing the toss and the team news. A lot will also depend on the Gujarat Titans result on Thursday as to what pressure the two sides are under. RCB are the favourites though and rightly so – they have been the best side in the tournament and they are at the peak of their powers. Whatever happens with the Gujarat Titans game, Sunrisers Hyderabad need to win here while RCB could be guaranteed a top two spot and could potentially rotate players. I have this as a 50/50 game, and I’m happy with a small bet on Hyderabad at 2.1 or bigger.
The Edge Says:
One point win Sunrisers Hyderabad to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru at 2.1 with Betdaq Betting Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/IPSuRo
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
This is one of the great batting venues in the IPL and the in-running strategy is fairly straightforward – you want to be on the batters. Although we can get a heavy dew here, batting first has seemingly been the winning formula because the scores have been high. Both sides have excellent batting line-ups, and I’d be happy to support either here – this is a ground where you don’t want to be on the bowlers!
