THE EDGE: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Thursday’s IPL clash between Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The IPL hits Eden Gardens on BETDAQ Betting Exchange again on Thursday as Kolkata Knight Riders host Rajasthan Royals. It was a very interesting weekend and now both sides start this game on the same number of points. Rajasthan started the tournament on fire but they come into this game with downward momentum after losing four of their last five games. KKR have won three of their last four, and they must come into this game full of confidence. You get the feeling Rajasthan need something to go right for them – losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad off the final ball chasing 214/2 must have been hard to take, especially with their current run!
Usually Rajasthan fire when Jos Buttler fires at the top of the order. He scored 95 off 59 balls at the weekend but that still wasn’t good enough! KKR had a final ball win themselves on Monday against Punjab Kings – that game has really pushed them back into the race for the playoffs and a win here would give them a massive boost too – especially as it deals a blow to Rajasthan too. Andre Russell has finally came to the party in his last two games too – he scores so quickly it really does give the run rate a boost even if he only scores 25ish. He scored 42 off just 23 balls on Monday, and he tends to go on these runs so he will be a massive factor over the next week or two in my opinion.
We should have a cracking game here. Both sides have star batters at the top of the order, and their bowling has been hit-and-miss too. It’s not a surprise we have an even market, and we should have a very entertaining game as well.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
This will be the sixth IPL game here, and Eden Gardens has been a very high scoring venue so far. The average score had been creeping up for years before Covid19 hit, but we have had plenty of high scores this year already. Although it’s a huge stadium, the playing outfield is actually quite small. The first inning scores here this season have been 204/7 (won), 228/4 (won), 235/4 (won), 179/7 (chased) and 179/7 (chased). The last two games chased down would suggest you need to be up towards 200 batting first – plus we should get dew here to make life even harder for the bowlers.
RECOMMENDED BET:
We have a very even market here, and we should have a very even game too. I’ll be keeping stakes small before the off here. I just feel Rajasthan have been struggling in the bowling department lately, and with excellent batting conditions expected here I like KKR at 1.97. They have Jason Roy at the top of the order now, and their middle order looks very dangerous in good conditions. Especially with Andre Russell seemingly coming into good form. Obviously the likes of Butter is very dangerous for Rajasthan, but the KKR middle order is stronger and that might make the difference.
The Edge Says:
One point win Kolkata Knight Riders to beat Rajasthan Royals at 1.97 with Betdaq Exchange.
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/KolRaj
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
Given the favourable batting conditions, I wouldn’t stay long on either bowling side here. I’d want to support both batting sides. Buttler is worth a lot of ticks, but he is in good form so I wouldn’t take him on at the top of the order. I’m keen to support the KKR lower order, especially as Russell has found some form, he can go on good runs with momentum and that looks to be arriving at the right time. Rajasthan’s bowling has been leaking runs, the wicket is good here and he’s a power hitter – this might be the game to really support him in the market.
