Indian Premier League - IPL / Andrew Hughes / 31 March 2010 /

Bangalore's march towards the knock-out stages has been checked by two defeats on the road. But Friday's game offers them the chance to get back on track as they travel to Mohali to take on rock bottom Punjab. Andrew Hughes previews the game.

Venue and Conditions

The tournament is around the half-way mark and the sheer number of games that have taken place in a short space of time has taken its toll on the pitches. The PCA cricket stadium had offered one of the better surfaces for bowlers earlier in the tournament but there were signs during the last game here on Saturday that some of the pace and bounce had begun to fade. Hopefully the groundsman will have been able to freshen it up a little for this contest as traditionally it provides a good balance between bat and ball, with some assistance for quick bowlers and true bounce to suit strokeplayers.

Team News

Captain Kumar Sangakkara is back for Punjab after his one match ban. His replacement in the last game, Shaun Marsh, scored a fifty and so is unlikely to return to the bench and Brett Lee is an automatic selection, so Ravi Bopara will probably miss out. There is increasing pressure for Punjab to drop struggling veteran Mahela Jayawardene, particularly with the talented Adrian Barath waiting in the wings, but it remains to be seen if they take such a bold course.

Bangalore could well be unchanged. Kevin Pietersen and Cameron White have just arrived and did nothing wrong against Chennai, whilst Jacques Kallis is the first name on the team sheet and Dale Steyn lends their bowling extra bite. Mark Boucher therefore is likely to sit it out again, with Robin Uthappa continuing as stand-in keeper.

Match Odds

Most of the time you should think twice about steaming in to short-priced favourites in these volatile Twenty20 games and with Bangalore currently on [1.66] and the home side on [2.48] you might be tempted to side with the hosts. But on this occasion, the market has got it just about right and if you wish to dabble in the match winner market, backing an away win is the only sensible course of action.

Punjab have suffered for the absence of their Australian stars, but Marsh and Lee are back now and there is no sign of an upswing in performance. The bottom line is that key players have simply not been performing and the blame lies squarely with Yuvraj Singh, Mahela Jayawardene and Irfan Pathan who have failed repeatedly. If they were to come good, Punjab would look a different proposition but with just one win in seven, prospects of a semi-final place have already pretty much disappeared.

Bangalore remain essentially a solid team and it was encouraging for them that Pietersen and White slotted in so well on Wednesday. Losing to Chennai on a slow, holding pitch was no disgrace and they will be happier with the quicker surface at Mohali where Kallis and Steyn will also be a handful with the ball. Punjab may well turn it around at some point, but it won't be on Friday.

Top Batsman

Sangakkara might not be a bad bet to top score for Punjab, particularly if he opens the innings again, but preference is for Shaun Marsh, who is a reliable betting vehicle in a batting line up low on touch and confidence and should be backed at [3.5] or higher.

Five times in seven games, Jacques Kallis has finished as top scorer for Bangalore. Frankly, he is worth backing at this market at anything over Evens and at likely odds of [3.0] you should once more put your pennies on the big man from the Cape.

Featured Market

Robin Uthappa looked in good nick on Wednesday, but enjoyed a substantial bit of good fortune when he was dropped by Gony off his second ball. He is stylish but far from reliable and in the 'Kallis v Uthappa' market, you shouldn't hesitate to back Kallis at [1.8] or better.

Trivia

Early in the IPL, it was Punjab who had the upper hand in this fixture, winning the first three games. But Kumble's men have redressed the balance since, beating Punjab in their last two encounters.

Andrew Hughes says back Jacques Kallis to top score for Bangalore at [3.0] or better.

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