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Monte's Multiple: Twenty-third time lucky as IPL hots up?

Monte's Multiple RSS / Jaymes Monte / 28 April 2009 /

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The number 23 has followed me my whole life although not in a weird, Jim Carey film way. I was born on the twenty-third day of March, the first two houses I lived in as a child were numbered 23 and my first squad number as a young footballer was also 23.

In this, the twenty-third week for Monte's Multiple it seems inevitable that we will have a winner. In-fact, they might as well just pay out now without the formality of the events actually taking place......

Bet 1: Cricket - IPL

After a relatively slow and uninspiring start, the 2009 IPL is now really beginning to get going. There have been plenty of high scoring matches, a number of close games and we've even had a tied match resulting in a super over to decide the winner.

My personal fancies for the tournament, Kings XI Punjab made a poor start losing their first two matches but have since won their third and fourth fixtures to move onto four points from four games in the league stage. The first of those victories came against Bangalore Royal Challengers in which Ravi Bopara made the second highest knock of the tournament, 84 from 59 balls.

Their opponents on Wednesday, the Mumbai Indians, have had an indifferent tournament so far and a set of results which reads two wins, one defeat and one 'no-result'. One thing has been consistent in those four matches and that is the 'Little Master', with all three of their innings' centring around the influential Sachin Tendulkar.

Kings XI Punjab's strength is that they are not over reliant on any one player to score their runs. In their four matches to date a different player has top scored for them with the bat. If their bowlers can get the prized scalp of Tendulkar early on, Mumbai will find it difficult to outscore their opponents.

Selection: Back Kings XI Punjab to beat Mumbai Indians @ [2.2]


Bet 2: Snooker - World Championships

Ronnie O'Sullivan's defeat at the hands of Mark Allen earlier this week has blown this World Championships wide open and now every one of the quarter-finalists will fancy their chances of lifting the trophy.

World number four, Mark Selby is now favourite for the tournament along with Scotsman Stephen Maguire. However, in the quarter-final he now comes up against twice World Champion John Higgins. Higgins is widely considered to be one of the best match players the game has ever seen and he accentuated that theory in his second round match against Jamie Cope, coming from 12-10 down to win the final three frames and the match.

This one could go all the way, but Higgins' match play prowess should shine through in the end and help him edge it when it gets down to the crunch.

Selection: Back Higgins to beat Selby @ [2.0]


Bet 3: Football - UEFA Cup

The UEFA Cup is re-branding itself for the 2009/10 season in an attempt to make it more like its glamorous and richer elder brother, the Champions League. As a result this year's winners will be the twenty-fifth and concluding winners of the tournament named the UEFA Cup. Dinamo Kiev play Shakhtar in the all Ukrainian semi-final and Werder Bremen play Hamburg in the all German semi-final.

Werder Bremen's home form is what has seen them make it through to the semi-final stage, as they have not won away from home in any of their other two legged matches to make it this far. They are also responsible for knocking out hot tournament favourites AC Milan. Hamburg have also taken some prize scalps along the way, knocking out two of the English contingent, Aston Villa and Man City.

But Bremen should have the psychological advantage here after beating Hamburg in a penalty shootout last week. They also have the unwanted luxury of being able to totally focus on this UEFA Cup campaign, as their league position now sees them with little to play for on that front. Whereas Hamburg are still in the closely run fight for the title and Champions League spots.

I feel Bremen must take a lead to the Nordbank Arena if they are to make it through to the final of the UEFA Cup and they will be fully focussed on doing so. It should be a closely fought fixture, but I fancy Bremen to shade the first leg.

Selection: Back W Bremen to beat Hamburg @ [1.95]