IPL Betting: Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals

Indian Premier League - IPL / Ed Hawkins / 17 March 2010 / Leave a Comment

Robin Uthappa is a class act for Bangalore

Nothing is going right for Shane Warne's side. Hampered by loss of form and injuries they take on a Bangalore side on Thursday whose confidence is soaring after a demolition of King's XI. Ed Hawkins previews IPL game 10

Venue and conditions
The Chinnaswamy stadium has a first-innings average score of 159 in its last 13 IPL and Champions League matches. That figure would be higher were it not for some erratic batting performances by the home side.

The 407 runs scored between Bangalore and King's XI last time out prove this is a good batting wicket. Check prices for 170 runs or more on the innings markets. There is a discernible toss bias which punters should be aware of. In those 13 matches, the side batting second have won nine times.

Team news
Reports that Rajasthan Royals have been rocked by two losses out of two would have been wide of the mark but there is no doubt they are now wobbling following the news that South Africa opener Graeme Smith (fractured finger) and England allrounder Dimitri Mascarenhas (ankle) are out of the tournament.
Rajasthan skipper Shane Warne did not bother to sugercoat the situation. "Big setback for us as Smith and Dimma are very good players and their experience will be hugely missed," he said.

Shane Watson is still unavailable due to Australia commitments while the batting cupboard looks bare; one from Damien Martyn, Michael Lumb and Adam Voges will replace Smith. Perhaps worst of all, big-hitting Yusuf Pathan is an injury doubt.

Bangalore, by contrast, are in fine fettle. Their eight-wicket dissection of Punjab's 203 was impressive and having found a way to get wicketkeeper Mark Boucher into the side at No 7, they look well-balanced.

Match odds
Faith in Rajasthan, 2008 winners, has disappeared faster than the patience of Kate Winslet's marriage counsellor. Written off and friendless, the Royals are as big as [2.78] with Bangalore [1.52].

The immediate reaction to such a discrepancy is to wonder whether we can make a case for the Royals? The answer is: absolutely. The unpredictable and changeable Twenty20 format dictates that a team can win despite such odds, particularly one with the canny brain of Warne, a fit Pathan and the potential lethal yorker of Shaun Tait at the death.

However, the more pertinent question is: do we want to make a case for the Royals? The answer has to be no. Man for man, Rajasthan look to be outclassed and perhaps, in our heart of hearts, we know we are trying too hard when we look upon the expensive Tait as a positive.

There will be better wagers as the tournament progresses, and that goes for Bangalore, too. As good as they were against King's XI, they were dreadful in their first game against Kolkata, when they were posted just 135. Bangalore have a history of pathetic batting efforts first up and there will be more reliable outfits this season who go off at short odds.

Rajasthan have won three of the four meetings between the sides, Bangalore's one victory coming last year when they were skittled by the Royals only to hit back and bowl Warne's men out for just 58.

Top batsman
With unbeaten scores of 65 and 89 Jacques Kallis is the sizzling favourite for top Bangalore batsman in this contest. He is as short as [3.25] and although he is striking the ball so well that only canines could hear it leaving the willow, we'll leave that alone.

Our favoured wager would be the elegant Robin Uthappa at [7.00]. Uthappa struck 51 from 21 balls last time against King's and ordinarily that would be enough. He is likely to relish taking on a Rajasthan attack which has conceded more runs per match than any side.

The Rajasthan market is wide open and it is no surprise to see Any Other Batsman (which includes Martyn, Lumb, Voges) the [3.25] jolly. Naman Ojha, who should open, is [6.00] and top scored against Bangalore last year.

Featured market
Here are some numbers: 2/8/7/20/9/0/27/5/1/43/7/22. Those are 12 of Rajasthan's 13 opening partnerships in IPL2. That is an average of 12. The 13th, unlucky for some, was a trend busting stand of 135. A lay of Rajasthan for 30 runs or more for the first wicket at around [3.00] is a must.

Trivia
Before Wednesday's game, the outsiders in the match odds market had won four out of the eight games played.

Ed Hawkins says: lay Rajasthan opening partnership for 30 runs or more at [3.00].