THE EDGE: The Edge previews Thursday’s IPL clash between Punjab Kings v Mumbai Indians with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Punjab Kings v Mumbai Indians
MATCH OVERVIEW:
It’s do-or-die time at the IPL on Thursday as Punjab Kings face Mumbai Indians on Betdaq Betting Exchange. Both sides are hanging onto their chances of making the playoffs by their fingers nails at the moment. By the end of the week we’ll have passed the halfway mark in the group stage, but with only two wins from six games these two are closer to the bottom of the table than the playoff spots! They both have an immense amount of work to do and need to put a string of wins together, however we have watched Mumbai Indians do this type of thing before so let’s not rule them out just yet!
The reality here is that both sides desperately need to win. I said the same about the Mumbai Indians v RCB game last week and Mumbai came through that, a loss at the weekend to CSK has put them in another must win game. They actually come into the game as the favourite favourites too; 1.6 is the shortest price in this year’s IPL! With their record, both sides have clearly had their issues. Mumbai have been exceptionally poor with the ball at times – their batting has let them down once or twice, but it’s mainly been the bowling that’s causing so many problems.
Bowling has been an issue for Punjab at times too; they are very reliant on Kagiso Rabada to fire and lack back-up in the pace bowling department. Their batting has gone OK, but it could be better. The English players have yet to win a game on their own, and we know Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone have the talent to do that, plus Shikhar Dhawan has had some injury niggles. Despite seeing poor cricket from both at times, this should be a very interesting game.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
Mullanpur is a new venue this season, and we’ve had plenty of situations where sides have just bowled first because they literally don’t know what to expect. I would suggest we don’t know what a par score here is yet, but obviously we’re getting to know conditions more with each game. This will be the fourth fixture here, and the first inning scores have been 174/9 (chased), 182/9 (won), 147/8 (chased). The three games have been thrillers really; the 182 was only defended by two runs, and the 147 chase went to the final two balls. I’d opt to bowl first if given the choice, but we don’t have the data to claim it’s an edge.
RECOMMENDED BET:
I have to say I was slightly surprised when I clicked into the market here. Mumbai are massive favourites at 1.6; as I said above that’s the shortest price in the IPL so far this year. Obviously it’s a must win situation and Mumbai are a very popular side, but I feel they are priced too short here. We have two average sides here; Punjab have the batting talent to blow Mumbai away just as they do. They both have issues with bowling, to be honest though the Mumbai bowlers have been very poor this season and it’s hard to see why they should be the massive favourites in my opinion.
The Edge Says:
Two points win Punjab Kings to beat Mumbai Indians at 2.6 with Betdaq Exchange
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/PnjMum
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
As highlighted above, this venue is new this season. In those situations, the best thing to do is nothing. This can also be the hardest thing to do for any trader! We just don’t have the data here to say batting or bowling first is an edge, neither do we have the data to say what a par score is yet. I would be against both sets of bowlers just because they have been so poor this season rather than the ground conditions. I’m keen to take on the Mumbai bowlers who have been woeful at times this season.
