IPL: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Friday’s IPL game between Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

Kolkata Knight Riders v Punjab Kings

MATCH OVERVIEW:

The Indian Premier League returns to the Wankhede on Friday afternoon as Kolkata Knight Riders take on Punjab Kings. So far KKR have been involved in two low scoring games, but the game against RCB on Wednesday was an absolute thriller on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. KKR would have been bitterly disappointed to only score 128 all out in the first innings but they very nearly defended the score. RCB were in a tricky position when KKR missed a huge run out of Dinesh Karthik but they threw the ball to the wrong end. A four followed off the next ball, and that was that.

KKR will view this has a good chance to get back to winning ways but their batting needs to fire. There’s no doubt that they have an excellent bowling attack and I felt that would win them the game against RCB but their batters need to come to the party. The Punjab Kings batters started on fire in their opening game chasing down 205/2 from RCB with an over to spare. Perhaps a worry in the tournament would be seeing 205/2 scored and then a few days later such a low scoring game between RCB and KKR at the same ground – just when we are trying to get a handle on conditions at new grounds.

When you look down the Punjab Kings team you feel that they lack a star. People will point to Shikhar Dhawan but he’s not really blockbuster in my opinion, and while Liam Livingstone had a brilliant English summer – he needs to perform on the main stage in the world now. That being said, Punjab did look like a good team in their opening game and when everyone knows their job well and fits into each role that’s a very promising T20 team. This will be an interesting game.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

After seeing the opening games I am now going into each game with a very open mind on conditions. Of course, this is a new IPL with it being based in Mumbai with a few games in Pune and that brings its own challenges. Pinches with get worn out etc, but I expected conditions to stay a little consistent at the start of the tournament and that hasn’t been the case so far. We saw two games at the DY Patil with 205/2 chased down and then 128 was a tricky chase in the second game. Here we have saw 131/5 and then 158/6. Both scores were chased down, and I think it’s a no brainer what you do at the toss here, you have to bowl first.

RECOMMENDED BET:

I was very disappointed to see the batting performance from KKR against RCB on Wednesday as I was confident they could win. The RCB bowling is poor too which makes it worse. We lost our money there, but I still feel that KKR offer a little bit of value here at 2.3. I expect a closer game than those odds suggest, and this wicket could really suit their team. I know Punjab have some very talented batters but I do feel the market is under-rating the KKR bowling. I feel they are worth backing at 2.3, and I would increase my stakes if they bowled first. Bowling first will provide a slight edge here in my opinion, and the KKR bowlers can win the game in the first innings.

The Edge Says:
Two points win Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Punjab Kings at 2.3 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQKkrPun

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

There’s no point lying, forming a solid in-running strategy is difficult at the moment with the changing conditions. I would expect a decent wicket when you look at the stats here over the past few years, but the scoring just hasn’t lived up to that in the opening two games. I would definitely start this game a little cagey from that point of view. I feel the best angle here will be getting on the side who bowls first – given that the KKR bowling looks so strong it would be ideal if that was KKR because Punjab did concede over 200 in their opening game. Of course, the KKR batting has been a worry, and perhaps it’s best to just get on KKR when they are bowling for a trade and approach the other part of the innings when KKR bat with a very open mind.