IPL Betting: Chennai Super Kings v Kings XI Punjab

Find Me A 100 Winner / Andy Richmond / 07 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Swashbuckling Indian star MS Dhoni has a settled Chennai side purring. Andy Richmond suggests they'll be successful today against Kings XI...

Team News
The importance of the match should result in both teams playing close to their perceived strongest line ups. Chennai will continue with the prolific Matthew Hayden and Suresh Raina and know they can rely on some lower order big-hitters such as MS Dhoni and Jacob Oram. Murali will as ever play a vital role, particularly if Chennai can bat first, which they have done in their last three games. This has resulted in a three game winning streak, transforming their fortunes.
Kings XI lack strength in depth and will probably have to play much the same side as was thrashed by the Rajasthan Royals in their last game by 78 runs - their bowling and lack of leadership looking more a liability despite Kings being only 2 points off the lead in an increasingly tight competition - Kolkata apart.

Venue, Pitch, Conditions
This and the earlier game will be played at Centurion Park - this one under the lights and I'm sure Chennai will be desperate to bat first again - this will be the sixth game to be played at the venue, the earlier game being the fifth. Scores so far have been averaging around the 140 - 150 mark, with Chennai recording the highest T20 score so far against Rajasthan when scoring 164/5. No match so far has totalled over 300 match runs so laying over 300 match runs especially given the fact that the match is a day nighter and Kings have struggled to get momentum in their batting.

Match Odds
These two have not met before in the IPL 2009 but it is undoubtedly Chennai who have the momentum here having had a wretched start to the competition, the settled side under the leadership of Dhoni is starting to look dangerous and at anything better than [1.74] they should be supported here, I'd be tempted to go in even stronger if they bat first as this is a strategy which clearly suits them well.

Top Batsman
Chennai are batting well, of that there is no doubt and the bullying Aussie Hayden, Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni form a formidable trio - with the former two opening the innings they should have more opportunity than Dhoni and Raina who appears to have come into his own of late, posted a 98 here at Centurion Park off just 55 balls, anything over 5.0 would be overpriced in this market.
Kings have been disappointing with the willow, only Yuvraj Singh totalling over 200 aggregate runs so far, he's been the consistent one in an otherwise lacklustre line up apart from a one decent innings each from Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Featured Market
Thanks to Hayden's brutality at the top of the order, Chennai are one of the fastest scoring sides in the first six overs and with more firepower placed in the middle order of the Kings XI lineup, I would definitely be looking to side with Chennai in this market if the price offers enough value.