Sunrisers Leeds v Southern Brave Tips
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Saturday 25 July, 14:30
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Sunrisers Leeds did little to dispel the theory that they were a team who could be classed as all brawn and little brain in their opening-day defeat by MI London. When it came to doing the hard yards they came up short.
The top five is stacked with ability but is the balance right? Zak Crawley doesn't feel like a No 4 in this league. And when it came to hitting outside the powerplay with Rashid Khan and Nathan Sowter into their work with variation and pace off, Leeds lost their way. From a fast start they posted below the average score for The Oval. They may also have an issue with their sixth bowler being Dan Lawrence while it was chastening for Abrar Ahmed to go at three runs per ball. He is the one supposed to make the difference in the field. They were never really in the hunt to defend.
Leeds may, however, be able to paper over the cracks on their own surface. On the best batting wicket in the country in this tournament they have decided to base their strategy on outscoring the opposition. The average first-innings score is 162 and the average runs total for the match is 307. Both are comfortably the highest for the competition.
Betfair Sportsbook are alive to the prospect of runs, pitching the first-innings score at 166.5. You can play overs on either team's match runs, however, at 160.5. Leeds may be more reliable, though. There is also an angle on sixes at overs 13.5. this is below the average which comes in at 14.2. You will have to pay 4/51.80, though.
On flat wickets, we swerve the top bat markets to take others out of the equation and go for milestones instead. Harry Brook at No 3 for Leeds is of interest. Betfair Sportsbook offer 7/42.75 that he hits 40 or more.
Back Harry brook 40 or more
Welsh Fire v MI London The Hundred Tips
Click here for Welsh Fire v MI London odds
Saturday 25 July, 18:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports
MI London carried on from where the Oval Invincibles left off. By being invincible at The Oval. In the opening match they defeated Sunrisers without breaking sweat. This offers a sterner test, however, on a Cardiff wicket which should be slower, lower and a war of attrition. And against a Welsh Fire side who are confident. A morale-boosting win over Brave was much-needed for the new era given what has gone before.
In Cardiff, batting is harder than anywhere else. The average first-innings score (136), average match total (264) and average sixes (8.2) are all the lowest in the tournament. Perhaps recognising this, Fire have built their squad to suit. Joe Root, Rachin Ravindra and Asa Tribe are batters who can find gaps rather than make them.
This should be a test of London's ability to think on their feet and it is not unreasonable to reckon that, early in the piece, Fire might be a smidge of value. They are 5/42.25 with Betfair Sportsbook but you'll likely get bigger on the Betfair Exchange closer to the off.
Maybe we don't need to try to be that smart, however, as there is clear value on the first-innings runs line. There's a whopping chunk in our favour at unders 153.5 at 5/61.84. This has won 13 out of 18 when a full set of balls has been available.
The reason for the higher line is simple. it is the MI factor. Although we reckon they are a strong outfit and should be bang in the mix, there's not a chunk of evidence they should be moving the first-innings line so much particularly with no guarantee they bat first.
Back under 153.5 1st inns runs