Indian Premier League - IPL / Ed Hawkins / 29 May 2008 / 1 Comments

The Hawkeye view - The semi-finals of the IPl are here and the Royals, Daredevils, Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab are the sides still left in it. But who should your money be on?

AFTER 56 matches and nearly six weeks of action, finally the Indian Premier League semi-finalists are known. Section winners Rajasthan Royals play Delhi Daredevils at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Friday and then Chennai Super Kings take on Kings XI Punjab at the same venue a day later. Rajasthan, thanks to their defeat to Kings on Wednesday, have conceded favouritism to lift the inaugural trophy - the final is on Sunday - to their conquerors.

They are [3.35] with Kings [3.1]. Delhi are [4.2] and Chennai are [5.2]. But in a tournament which has been full of surprises, Rajasthan were rank outsiders, are there any more twists? Here we analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the glory hunters...

Rajasthan Royals

Win/loss: 11/3
Average first innings score: 167
Run rate for: 8.5
Run rate against: 7.9

Strengths: The table does not lie. They are the best side in the tournament. That is largely down to the inspirational qualities of Shane Warne, who has made sure his players revel in the role of underdogs. However, there is more to it than that. They are the canniest team when in the field, conceding least of all the last four teams in terms of average run rate. And in Shane Watson they have the hard-hitting, quick bowling, all-rounder other teams would kill for. Sohail Tanvir is gold dust, too. He is the highest wicket-taker and the bowler with the best economy rate.

Weaknesses: There are slight concerns over their batting. Twice it has failed spectacularly in the first dig; being bowled out for 103 against Mumbai and slumping to 129-8 versus Delhi. Their backers would feel happier too, if they stopped playing the expensive Munaf Patel, who is fourth and fifth in the list of worst analysis in an innings.

Delhi Daredevils

Win/loss:7/6
Average first innings score:167
Run rate for: 8.5
Run rate against: 8.7

Strengths: Like Chennai, they have also enjoyed a thumping win over their last-four opponents. In their first match they hammered the Royals by nine wickets. In Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag - Nos 2 and 7 in the top runscorer lists - they have the best opening partnership. Glenn McGrath is the second most economical bowler in the competition.

Weaknesses: That win against the Royals is their solitary success out six matches against the other three semi-finalists. They also rely too heavily on Sehwag. Five of their six defeats came when he failed with the bat.

Chennai Super Kings

Win/loss: 8/6
Average first innings score: 173
Run rate for: 8.4
Run rate against: 8.7

Strengths: They have beaten Kings XI, their semi-final opponents, twice. And how. In only the second match of the tournament, they posted 240 against Kings. That remains the record score in the competition. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Albie Morkel are their top runscorers and are fearsome hitters in the middle order who must be kept quiet. Great record on the road, too having lost only twice away from home. Oh, and they've got some chap called Muralitharan.

Weaknesses: With Matt Hayden and Mike Hussey in their side, they won their first four matches. But when they lost the pair to Australia, they became an average side so their place in the semis could be deemed fortunate. Indeed, they lost to Bangalore, one of the biggest sins imaginable.

Kings XI Punjab

Win/loss: 10/4
Average first innings score: 185
Run rate for: 9.06
Run rate against: 8.5

Strengths: With Shaun Marsh, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Yuvraj Singh, they have the best batting line up on paper. And it's backed up by facts. They have the highest average first innings score of any of the semi-final teams and the highest run rate. Possibly the best balanced team too, with the excellent all-rounder Irfan Pathan.

Weaknesses: With 19 wickets Sreesanth is the second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament but his wayward line, length and attitude could cost Kings. It is notable that in two of Kings' defeats, he has gone at an average run rate of 11.5.

Tags: IPl betting, Rajasthan Royals, Shane Warne, Shane Watson