IPL Betting: Chennai Superkings v Mumbai Indians

Find Me A 100 Winner / Ed Hawkins / 15 May 2009 / Leave a Comment

Mumbai Indians lost in dramatic style on Thursday against the Rajasthan Royals to give themselves a huge mountain to climb at the business end of the tournament and will have to get it right against the Chennai Superkings, says Ed Hawkins.

Team news

Mumbai Indians appear to be confused as they go into the first of two games which they absolutely must win to make the semi-finals. It is not a good combination. Their batting order changes almost every game. They have used four opening partnerships and would be wise to go back to the Sachin Tendulkar-Sanath Jayasuriya axis. That they are reluctant suggests they are nervous about an inexperienced middle order. Mumbai must also decide whether to bring back Zaheer Khan, possibly for Dhawl Kulkarni.

Chennai, barring an improbable implosion, look certainties for the last four. They lost last time out to Bangalore but could bring back paceman and useful lower-order hitter Manpreet Gony.

Pitch conditions

Port Elizabeth has been good to bat on - for Chennai and Mumbai at least. Chennai hit 179 batting first against Bangalore and Mumbai creamed 187 off Kolkata. The first-innings average in the six games played there is 161. Mumbai have played at PE twice and won while Chennai won their only game there, too.

Match odds

Would it be cruel to suggest that Mumbai's tendency to go to pieces under pressure has something to do with their coach being a South African who was involved in some infamous chokes? No-one is entirely sure how much input Shaun Pollock has but it may be no coincidence that his team crack up.

Mumbai should have won close games against Rajasthan, Deccan and King's XI. Such results get the nerves jangling but at least at [2.38] the market is up to speed.
Chennai are not much fun either at prohibitive odds of [1.68], particularly after they 'did a Mumbai' against Bangalore.

They had won five in a row before that, something to bear in mind if you decide to go with Mumbai, hoping they can trade low enough for a back and lay. That may not be a bad shout, particularly if you cast your mind back to the first game of this tournament, which was between these two. Mumbai won by 19 runs.

Top batsman

Two of world batting's powerhouses top scored when the sides met earlier in a competition. Sachin Tendulkar hit 59 and Matt Hayden 44. The pair did the honours in previous games at PE, too.

Featured market

Hayden is averaging a colossal 48.6 in this tournament. Check his price to score a 50 and in a match runs bet with JP Duminy for any value.

Ed Hawkins says back Mumbai at [2.38] with view to lay off sub [2.00] in-running