IPL Betting: Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders

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

The Deccan Chargers look a far better side with Andrew Symonds and Chaminda Vaas in the team and will need those two to perform strongly if they are to put in a late "charge" for a semi-fianl spot, says Ed Hawkins.

Team news

Deccan need to win at least two of their final three games to make the semi-finals and they must be thanking their lucky stars that one of them is against no-hopers Kolkata, who have one win in 11.

Adam Gilchrist's team should have beaten Delhi last time out and that they didn't was down to some ill-disciplined batting. One batsmen who could be held accountable is Dwayne Smith, whose head-in-the-air slog arguably cost them dear.

It could be a blessing, though. Smith's error could make room for Herschelle Gibbs for the run in. With Andrew Symonds in the middle order and Chaminda Vaas strengthening the bowling, their balance looks perfect for a semi-final tilt.

Kolkata should keep faith with Ajantha Mendis, who opened the bowling against Bangalore to put them in a winning position which they threw away. Why he has not played every game is, similar to his secret delivery, a mystery.

Pitch conditions

The Wanderers at Jo'burg seems to have been rather underused. Only three games have been played on a belting surface in a fantastic arena. No matter. The three first-innings scores have been: 163/149/123. The latter was Kolkata's pathetic effort against Delhi. The game is under lights and there is no evidence of a toss bias.

Match odds

At [2.58] Kolkata have the added ignominy of being one of the biggest prices to win an IPL match before the off. Deccan are as short as [1.61].

It is hard to make a case for an upset. If Brendon McCullum can produce a blitzkrieg. If Ishant Sharma can rediscover his mojo. If Mendis can bamboozle the Deccan batsmen with his array of tricks. Too many ifs though, particularly when Kolkata just don't how to win. They should have beaten Bangalore comfortably last time after posting 173 but completely lost the plot in the field.

Top batsmen

Gibbs is a man who benefits from focusing his mind. And the chop would have done just that. Should he come back into the side he could perform on a ground where he averages 33 in Twenty20s and 50 in List A cricket. Gibbs struck an unbeaten 43 to take honours in the previous meeting.

Featured market

Deccan to hit most sixes could be a steal. They have four men in the top 20 of six hitters. Kolkata have one (McCullum).

Ed Hawkins: says back Herschelle Gibbs to be Deccan top bat at [4.50] or higher