IPL GAMES 14 and 15: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Wednesday’s games 14 and 15 in the IPL between Punjab Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad and with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Game 14 Punjab Kings v Sunrisers Hyderabad
MATCH OVERVIEW:
After a wonderful few days at the Indian Premier League with plenty of drama, we have out second double header on Wednesday! It’s bound to be another action packed afternoon of in-play drama on BETDAQ Betting Exchange as we have two very even games. Just like Sunday, we have one game in Chennai and one in Mumbai and we start in Chennai with Punjab Kings taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad.
It’s still very early in the season, but you feel that this is a massive game for both sides. They sit in the bottom two in the table and as we saw last season, it’s very easy to get a little detached very quickly – CSK will tell you that! Especially in these franchise leagues, some of the players are just here for the money and if the chance of winning is gone they can sometimes switch off. Sunrisers Hyderabad are under particular pressure because they have lost their opening three games.
They usually have rock solid bowling, but they haven’t performed at the same level that they are used to. They always had holes in their batting, and their bowling would make up for that but with their bowling slightly off it has been hard to win. It has to be noted however that they have had to chase three times here, and you don’t want to chase in Chennai. Punjab have recorded the highest and lowest score of the IPL already in their three games, and it’s fair to say there’s never a dull moment – especially with Chris Gayle in your side!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
The wicket is Chennai has been slow and low, and really favoured the spinners. It has been very tough to chase and you definitely want to bat first. Indeed, the toss will have a major impact on the result as batting first is such an advantage. The one thing to say about today however is that RCB scored 204/4 in a day game here on Sunday and this is another day game. Scoring 200+ in a day game isn’t unusual here it must be said, and we used to see it before the ground closed to upgrade the stands. It must be also factored in however that AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell put on a show for RCB, and we might not see a score like that again. I would suggest batting will be slightly easier than the night games, but you still want to bat first regardless.
RECOMMENDED BET:
I expect a very close game here and both sides are pretty similar on paper. I feel Punjab Kings should be favourites though, and the market agrees. Both sides have bowled poorly – probably especially Hyderabad are they have given away too many runs here. They have probably had conditions work against them too however, so I wouldn’t fully write them off but the market is correct having Punjab favourites. I know Baristow has improved Hyderabad a lot, but they have never been a six hitting team and Punjab Kings Most Sixes catches my eye here at 1.73. They have way more six hitters and although the wicket can be tricky here, we should see more sixes in a day game and Punjab can come out on top in that department.
The Edge Says:
Three points win Punjab Kings Most Sixes at 1.73 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange
View the market here -> http://bit.ly/BDQPnjHyd
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
As anyone can see, the conditions can really change depending on the current situation even when a lot of games take place at the same ground. I think we should focus on the day game here on Sunday to see what we can expect, but the general idea stays the same as we want to be on the team batting first. Of course they can bat poorly, but it’s a massive advantage to bat first and they just have to take that advantage. I would suggest batting first is a bigger advantage in the day games because it’s so hot in Chennai it becomes very hard work for the bowlers.
I’m keen to keep things straightforward here and get on the team batting first as my main trading strategy. I would start the game very cagey though, RCB lost early wickets here before going big late on. That could be due to the class of de Villiers, but as I said above it’s tough work for the bowlers here in the heat and that can play a huge factor. I feel the best strategy would be to watch the opening few overs, and then start to trade the team batting first from overs 7/8/9 onwards.
Game 15 Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings
MATCH OVERVIEW:
We have two excellent games for the double header today and next we move to Mumbai for Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings. KKR are another side under a little bit of pressure after losing two of their opening three games and Eoin Morgan won’t be happy with their batting or bowling. In fairness, they had to grind out a lot of their wins in the last IPL and you’d assume they will have to do the same this year. CSK have started the tournament in great form, and it will be interesting to see does that continue given they were so poor in the UAE.
KKR were on the losing end of the AB de Villiers onslaught in Chennai and it will be very interesting to see how they perform today given they have played their opening three games in Chennai. Their batters are probably more suited to conditions in Mumbai where the pitch has played a lot more true and even. That being said, we have saw games with a massive amount of movement with the new ball.
KKR might have suffered from the way games panned out in Chennai more than anything else – they had to chase twice and lost and the game they batted first, they actually put in a good performance to win. That shows how conditions can affect you but CSK have been red-hot with the ball in Mumbai and the KKR batting might not be able to stand up to the test. We should have a fascinating game here in my opinion.
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
After a couple of games with massive movement off the green wicket, scores went back up in the last few days. Punjab scored 195/4 which was chased down easily and then CSK put up 188/9 on Monday. I have to say conditions have changed so much in Mumbai with the moving of wickets I have to keep an open mind going into each game, however if we see the pitch is good in the opening overs then we can expect a high scoring game. CSK did very well to keep Rajasthan Royals down to 143/9 in the chase given Delhi Capitals chased 195/4 so easily the day before however Rajasthan did have a middle order collapse. I still feel you want to bowl first, as there are more options to win the game chasing.
RECOMMENDED BET:
I have to say this is a fascinating game. KKR move to Mumbai and I expect conditions will suit them a lot better here. Their bowlers should enjoy the pitch more, although granted it could be a run-fest again and surely their batters will enjoy conditions more. They did have to chase in their two losses in Chennai, and we know how difficult that can be. They also had to bowl in the heat in the day game in Chennai, so nothing much has gone in their favour. CSK have been ultra-impressive in their last two games here however, and they are rightly favourites. Andre Russell top scored in KKR’s last game, but he didn’t have to score much. He catches my eye at 7.0 to top score for KKR again. I think the match odds market is bang on here, and conditions should suit Russell to hit some massive sixes – plys CSK have a lot of spinners and that could suit him too.
The Edge Says:
One point win Andre Russell Top Kolkata Knight Riders Batsmen at 7.0 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange
View the market here -> http://bit.ly/BDQKolCsk
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
CSK were very impressive in the last game here when defending their score, but usually conditions were favour the team bowling first and while I would go into this game with an open mind – I would suggest chasing should give a little advantage and to factor that into your trading. The games in Mumbai have been a lot more difficult to prepare for before the off as conditions have changed a lot, but as I said above bowling first gives a lot more options to win the game.
In terms of players trades, I would be keen to be against MS Dhoni has he struggles again when batting. Moeen Ali looks in great form for CSK however, and I would be keen to support him when batting, as well as Faf du Plessis for CSK and Andre Russell looked in good touch for KKR so I can see him batting well on this ground which should suit his style of play – however when he bowls I would definitely be against him as he could go for a lot of runs here!
