IPL GAME 26: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Friday’s Punjab Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore game in the IPL with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

We’re back in Ahmedabad on Friday for a cracker in the Indian Premier League as Punjab Kings take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Both sides have already played one game here and had two very different experiences. Punjab only managed to score 123/9 against KKR and then RCB won on the final ball as they successfully defended 171/5. This is bound to be another game with some dramatic price movements in-play on BETDAQ Betting Exchange.

I’m sure it was a huge boost for RCB to get back to winning ways on Tuesday, especially on the final ball against a top side like Delhi Capitals. You can see that they are improving and they will be hopeful of playing better in the Playoffs this season – they are already well positioned to finish in the top two with Mumbai Indians starting slowly but they reality is Kohli, Maxwell and de Villiers will have to stay in top form to get them there.

I don’t think you could describe the Punjab Kings as anything other than “up-and-down” – they have had the top score in this IPL and also the lowest score. Their batting can be quite brilliant and it can be terrible! You really never know which side is going to turn up but you can see they rely on their top order to get the runs – if the top order don’t fire then they likely lose the game quickly. One could say that about the RCB stars too, so a lot depends on the bowlers here.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

We had another game here yesterday but so far the conditions have been a mixed bag. I wouldn’t go into the game with a set plan or tactic based on the pitch. We saw a range of scores in the India v England series too and we don’t have enough ground data to form a solid opinion on what we can expect. The one thing I would say is dew is a huge factor here – without it batting looks tricky, but with it the ball goes around the park. You can only see if we have dew in-play, and it has arrives in the last five overs of the first innings but watch out for it arriving earlier or later.

RECOMMENDED BET:

We have had a lot of mid-to-late order batsmen getting top score here and perhaps that shows the impact dew could have. Even in the Punjab innings here, Chris Jordan top scored because he hit a few sixes late on. I feel RCB are a little too short in the market here but there isn’t much value in it, and I like a bet from the Top Batsman market – but I have to point out I only like this bet if Punjab bat first – if Punjab don’t bat first then it would be a no bet so wait for the toss news. I like Moises Henriques Top Punjab Batsman at 9.0 – I feel he can hold the innings together if they lose early wicket which has happened here and he can score big late if the dew arrives, he shouldn’t come in too early either so he could have the best conditions if Punjab bat first.

The Edge Says:
One point win (If Punjab Bat First) Moises Henriques Top Punjab Batsman at 9.0 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange

View the market here -> http://bit.ly/BDQPunRoy

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

There’s a lot of in-running angles that could develop here. I would be keen to take on the Punjab mid-to-lower order because if their top order doesn’t score big then they tend to only have a poor score. I know I recommended Henriques top scorer above but if he top scores Punjab are unlikely to score big – for example Jordan top scored the last day but Punjab played poorly. I’d be keen to get on the chasing team too given they are likely to have the best conditions for batting with the dew, but that all depends on the dew too so you’ll have to wait until in-play.

I would expect an early wicket in the first innings, and if RCB bat first that could be worth a lot given how good their openers have been and what a big name Kohli is. If RCB can get Maxwell or de Villiers to the final five overs however there could be carnage, just like the last game here. I feel the best tactic is to wait for the dew and work with that for your trades rather than focus on players.