TATA Indian Premier League
Saturday April 23 – Monday April 25, 2022
Punjab Kings have underachieved so far. I expected them to be right up there challenging for the title in this year’s IPL.
It might still happen, but it has to happen quickly.
But I do expect them to be cheering on Monday when they come up against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede in Mumbai (3pm).
Chennai may have won yesterday (Thursday), but that was against the hapless Mumbai Indians, and I do think Punjab have far more in the tank than they are showing at present.
Unfortunately for England fans, they haven’t got as much out of Jonny Bairstow (41 runs in four games) with the bat as hoped and probably not as much out of Liam Livingstone with the ball (two wickets in seven games), though the latter is their leading run-scorer with 226,
Punjab have actually won the last two meetings between the two teams, one last year and at the start of this month, and I would be happy to take bet365’s 4/5 on offer for them to make it three in three.
That is the only match bet of the weekend that I fancy, though there is something which stood out with Chennai Super Kings before I return to looking at matches over the next couple of days.
Ambati Rayudu long shot can come to pass
Rayudu is 7/1 to finish as CSK’s leading run-scorer in the competition with bet365.
The veteran number four is 71 runs behind current leader Shivam Dube (239) and market favourite Robin Uthappa (227).
But Rayudu, who has been there and done it all like Uthappa, has found form with scores of 46 and 40 in his last two games.
With half the group games remaining, I would be keen to take a chance on the 36-year-old making up those runs and some.
Is KP nuts? Not on this occasion
Anyone with an interest in the future of the county game will have no doubt been tearing their hair out at some of Kevin Pietersen’s views recently. Basically, in a nutshell, it’s rubbish according to him and it needs franchising like the Hundred to cut down the 18 counties. He’s crackers!
Anyway, I digress. The former England captain is currently on commentary duty with Star Sports India at the IPL and is offering tips to Betway.
And I do quite like the look of one he has offered up for Saturday’s second game, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad (3pm at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai).
He has tipped a combination bet of RCB to win, which I fancy them to do, and Shahbaz Ahmed to hit a six and Josh Hazlewood to take a wicket. That comes in at 11/4.
Ahmed comes in with a license to thrill, usually at six, and has hit seven sixes in as many games so far, while Hazlewood has taken eight wickets in three games.
Feast or famine Finch looks in good order
Finally, if you look at the Australia white ball captain’s recent T20 career stats, one thing is clear. He subscribes to the London bus syndrome. You wait ages for one and then loads comes along at once.
Just one example from his career. From October 2020 through to February of last year, the opener went 26 T20 innings without posting a fifty, passing 40 only once in that time.
But when he snapped that run, he posted back-to-back scores of 69 and 79 not out.
Lately, he has scored two fifties in his last three T20 innings for Australia and Kolkata Knight Riders. Immediately before that, he went five innings without.
But I have been encouraged by the way he has batted at the start of his latest IPL campaign, with 58 in his last match against Rajasthan Royals earlier this week.
So I can see him going again on Saturday morning when KKR face Gujarat Titans (11am) at Mumbai’s Dr DY Patil Sports Academy. He is 3/1 with Betfred to be Kolkata’s top run-scorer, which I’d be happy to side with.
-
Betfred
Get 3/1 on Aaron Finch to be top KKR run scorer v Gujurat (Saturday)
cta_button_2
T&Cs Apply
New UK customers only. Register using the promo code BETFRED60, deposit and place first bet of £10+ on Sports (cumulative Evens+) within 7 days of registration. First bet must be on Sports. £20 in Free Bets to be used on Sports, £10 in Free Bets to be used on Lotto and 50 Free Spins (20p per spin) credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. Further £20 in Free Bets credited 5 days after settlement. Bonuses have a 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions apply. SMS verification and/or Proof of I.D and address may be required. Full T&Cs apply.
* Indian Premier League odds correct at the time of publication. All IPL odds subject to changes.
