Monte's Multiple: Kolkata's year to shine

Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 08 March 2010 / 1

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A familiar moment of despair for the Kolkata Knight Riders in last year’s IPL.

Back Kolkata to beat Deccan @ 2.4
Back Birmingham to beat Portsmouth @ 3.1
Back van Barneveld to beat Jenkins @ 2.2
Treble pays @ 16.3

After a big-priced treble came agonisingly close last week, Jaymes Monte hopes to go one better with this week's trio of selections...

Bet 1: Cricket - IPL, Deccan Chargers v Kolkata Knight Riders

The Indian Premier League has returned to its spiritual home for its third year and in doing so it promises to be another huge spectacle. On Friday, once all the fireworks and PR gurus have had their moment, last year's champions, Deccan Chargers, will kick off proceedings against the IPL's biggest under-achievers, the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Kolkata have never made it past the group stages of this event despite having one of the most explosive teams on paper. The addition of Owais Shah to the team should add a bit of stability at the top of the order but when he and Chris Gayle are at the crease simultaneously we could be in for some comical running between the wickets.

I have a hunch - and that is all it is - that this could be the year that things go right for Kolkata. They have the required quality within their squad - that has never been a doubt - and if they can get off to a winning start here they could be one to keep on the right side of in the outright winner betting.

Selection: Kolkata to beat Deccan @ [2.4]

Bet 2: Football - Premier League

Two games against the same opposition in quick succession seems to happen a lot at the moment. It's fair to say that Portsmouth have already won the more important of the two fixtures between the sides but I doubt a single Birmingham City fan would be willing to swap situations with a Pompey counterpart.

Birmingham reached the magical 40-point mark last week and although relegation hasn't been a realistic possibility for a long time they can now relax in the knowledge that Premier League football is a certainty next season. For Portsmouth this will be an unwelcome return to the harsh realities of league football.

This game is a different proposition to that which took place on Saturday and it offers up a rare opportunity to back a side that are 21 points better off and 11 place higher in the league table at odds of [3.1].

Selection: Back Birmingham to beat Portsmouth @ [3.1]

Bet 3: Darts - Premier League

Every time Raymond van Barneveld steps onto the stage these days fans look on in hope rather than anticipation. Talk of him hitting a nine darter in the practice room before his match against Phil Taylor last week was met with typical scepticism and his performance proved the cynics right.

This week he is up against Terry Jenkins and looking to get his first points on the board since the opening week, if he fails to take maximum points then he could be facing an uphill battle to even qualify for finals day.

The mental obstacle which he must overcome when playing against Taylor won't be there this week so he is more likely to throw darts as he has been in practice. I'm willing to give Barney one more chance at the odds on offer this week in the hope that those who believe he is finished are wrong.

Selection: Back van Barneveld to beat Jenkins @ [2.2]

(1)

Brian | 09 March 2010

Unlucky with the selections last week, I thought we were on to a big priced winner there!
Not so sure about Birmingham this week but agree that they are a value price, so I'll have a dabble on the treble.