Indian Premier League - IPL / Tobias Gourlay / 11 April 2010 /

Tobias Gourlay expects fireworks as the Deccan Chargers take on the Bangalore Royal Challengers for the second time in four days.

Venue and Conditions

Forced out of Hyderabad by an unstable political situation, the Deccan Chargers play a third 'home' game of the season at the Vidharba Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Two days ago, in scorching heat, Adam Gilchrist's team knocked off Chennai's 138/8 with five balls to spare. A week ago, halted by Shane Warne's scorching good form, they came up a couple of runs short of Rajasthan's 159.

Team News

Both Deccan and Bangalore had successful outings on Saturday. The Royal Challengers had almost three overs to spare as they thrashed Kolkata by seven wickets. Jacques Kallis is immovable at the top of the order, leaving little room for Kevin Pietersen now that Ross Taylor has finished Test duties in Australasia. Veteran S Sriram was preferred to Manoj Prandey against Kolkata, but was sluggish, and not sloggish, so Prandey might yet get another chance in this match.

The emergence of TL Suman at No. 3 - the 26-year-old right-hander cracked half-centuries in each of his team's two recent victories - blocks Herschelle Gibbs's return to the Chargers' starting XI. After a period of quiet, Andrew Symonds has found some good form at No. 5. The Singhs, RP and Harmeet, are doing just enough with the ball to justify their places alongside Pragyan Ojha, the tournament's leading wicket-taker to date.

Match Odds

Deccan are seventh in the table, but wins in each of their last two matches have brought them to within two points of Bangalore, who are second. The Chargers won their meeting in Bangalore four days ago and levelled the head-to-head series at 3-3. By the time their latest meeting begins both sides will be close to evens. Both are on hot streaks of two and the market looks to have priced them about right. Anil Kumble's presence as the tournament's most economical bowler (of those that have sent down at least five overs) might just persuade you that the value lies with Bangalore.

Top Batsman

Captain Gilchrist has lead the Top Deccan Batsman market ever since anyone can remember. That might change one day soon. The wicky-batsman nonpareil managed 32 in Bangalore, but was soon eclipsed by Suman (78) and Symonds (53*), who will both offer better value when the market for Monday's game matures, just like Rohit Sharma, who might finally be settling into the No. 4 slot.

Jacques Kallis has done more than enough to justify his favouritism in Bangalore's market. The determined South African has already passed 500 runs for the tournament and, despite the more flamboyant talent surrounding him - Robin Uthappa, Ross Taylor, Cameron White - is hard to oppose. If you can find Uthappa at [6.0] or more, though, you'll have yourself a value bet. India's selectors haven't fancied him for a couple of years, but, if married to sensible shot selection, his brutality (and craftiness) can change any game, just as his 22-ball 50* did against Kolkata a couple of days ago.

Most Sixes

Uthappa is one of the big reasons why Bangalore should be favourites in the Most Sixes market. In Nagpur, the two teams shared 16 maximums, but the Royal Challengers' middle-order of Uthappa, White, Taylor and Virat Kohli need only play their natural T20 games to clear the fences regularly. For Deccan to match them, they'll probably require either a special performance from Gilchrist or Symonds, or for Rohit Sharma to leave his comfort zone.

Trivia

The toss might be more important than usual for this one. The Chargers have batted second in each of their last six matches, while Bangalore have done likewise in all of their most recent four. Do either of them remember how to set a total?

Tobias Gourlay Says: Back Bangalore at [2.06] v Deccan in Most Sixes market

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