Click here for LA Knight Riders v Washington Freedom match odds
Thursday 2 July, 02.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
LA Knight Riders v Washington Freedom MLC Tips
The Major League feels discombobulating for followers of the formguide. And that vibe could get more uncomfortable as the tournament moves to LA for the next seven games.
The matches will be the first to played at the purpose-built Pomona venue, named the Knight Riders Cricket Ground. It is brand new and is due to serve for the T20 tournament at the LA Olympic Games.
There have been no practice or warm-up matches so we have few clues as to how the surface will play. What we do know is that it is not a drop-in pitch. The square has been established from local clay. Players that have netted at the venue have suggested it is a good wicket so the suspicion is that we get runs, although not massive.
The buzz has been that it's a 180-190 bat-first venue. A new pitch can often retain moisture, giving hope to the new-ball bowlers hoping to extract seam and swing. Once a pitch beds in, it should get flatter but we're talking about a full season before the pitch has a characteristic which might be relied upon.
The gamble focuses on whether Sportsbook have been to conservative with their runs quotes. Freedom's total match runs is the lowest at 175.5.
But who knows in this tournament? It has been a topsy-turvy competition so far with Washington Freedom, the dominant force last season, having a horrible struggle. They sit bottom of the table with three defeats in five and a hammering last time against Unicorns.
Knight Riders, perhaps, are returning to the mean. They won their first two but defeats in their last two have been a reassuring hint of the status quo. They failed to chase 154 against Orcas and 144 against MI. Batting flops is absolutely within their purview.
They should be boosted by the return of Andre Russell for this one. After four wickets against MI New York Russell was left out against the Orcas. He should be fully rested and recuperated following a shoulder niggle.
We are still waiting for a Steve Smith special. He produced another failure last time out. This is now his worst sequence in franchise cricket for scores not busting 30. But it's okay. Sportsbook go 26.5. At some stage Smith should produce a big knock.
Click here for MINY v Seattle Orcas odds
Friday 3 July, 02.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
MI New York v Seattle Orcas MLC Tips
Quinton de Kock is overdue a top-bat win in the MLC so he is our go-to wager for this one. Sportsbook offer 3/14.00.
De Kock has been seeing the ball perfectly well and is expected to deliver a sizeable score any innings now. Last time out against LA it looked as if that was the big one. He raced to 33 off 17.
However, Sunil Narine deceived him with a beauty and he played inside the line of an arm ball to be bowled. That should keep QDK on the straight and narrow somewhat. He can be a player who gets ahead of himself so a reality check is not a problem.
Another player who should have a win in him is Marcus Stoinis. Sportsbook rate him at 6/17.00. Stoinis is having a strong season with the ball at least and although one to move up and down the order, there isn't a huge amount to beat in this market.
Dasun Shanaka, often good for a solitary win in these tournaments, has his success out of the way and Stoinis is getting closer to his time to shine.
Back Quinton de Kock top MINY bat