Cricket: Indian Premier League

[kevshat]

Been toying over whether to bet in tomorrow's semi final as I'm on Delhi outright anyway but 5/4 is too good for me to turn down I think.

10pts Delhi to beat Rajasthan 5/4 Sportingbet

Rajasthan only lost 3 matches in the group stage but significantly one of them was to the Delhi Daredevils. I've heard the argument that Delhi only just made the semis but given they were the worst affected by the weather I wash that argument away tbh.

Delhi have matchwinners throughout their side. The whole match could hinge on Virender Sehwag. If he bats for 10 overs this one is over such is his scoring rate. Gautam Gambhir is another matchwinner and their leading run scorer is going to be out for more runs here. Delhi are likely to play all 3 international bowlers so Glenn McGrath, Mohammad Asif and Farveez Maharoof will bowl 12 of the 20 overs and could all be hard to get away. Young leg spinner Amit Mishra will provide the spin.

Rajasthan have rested players in their last couple of matches and may just have lost an ounce of momentum. Smith, Tanvir and Warne will all return here although Warne's gone for over 10 an over without taking a wicket in the two matches between these two so far. Shane Watson has been Delhi's problem though and it was only his sensational 74 off 40 balls which stopped Sehwag's men doing the double over Rajasthan. A lot will depend on how the likes of Trivedi and Patel bowl as to how this match goes.

I don't think there's a great deal between these two and if both sides are on top form this will be an epic. I look at Delhi's bowling attack though and I see difficulty in scoring runs. Glenn McGrath has only conceded 33 runs in 8 overs between these two so far. Sehwag's men have basically played a knockout match in their last match with Mumbai which they came through and I think they'll come through this one too.

[Sir Fernando]

im swerving the semi finals, looking to see through my outright on Kings Punjab, would be good if both our original selections for the IPL made the final.

[kevshat]

Putting it politely, Delhi were crap. Don't like the Punjab's record against Chennai in terms of backing them at a short price but this handicap looks completely wrong to me.

10pts S.Marsh -3.5 runs to beat S.Fleming 5/6 Ladbrokes

Shaun Marsh has been the best batsman in this competition. He's score a helluva lot of runs at a decent lick with an amazing average of 74.12. Stephen Fleming has been poor really by his standards. I suppose to be fair he isn't really suited to this game but 196 runs from 10 matches at 21.77 isn't what Chennai will have wanted for their dosh. In the match these two played where both players were involved, Fleming was outscored by Marsh 58 runs to 1 so I can't see the big Aussie not covering this handicap.

[Sir Fernando]

Originally Posted by kevshat

Putting it politely, Delhi were crap. Don't like the Punjab's record against Chennai in terms of backing them at a short price but this handicap looks completely wrong to me.

10pts S.Marsh -3.5 runs to beat S.Fleming 5/6 Ladbrokes

Shaun Marsh has been the best batsman in this competition. He's score a helluva lot of runs at a decent lick with an amazing average of 74.12. Stephen Fleming has been poor really by his standards. I suppose to be fair he isn't really suited to this game but 196 runs from 10 matches at 21.77 isn't what Chennai will have wanted for their dosh. In the match these two played where both players were involved, Fleming was outscored by Marsh 58 runs to 1 so I can't see the big Aussie not covering this handicap.

looks v.solid, is Fleming definately playing?

Chennai have beaten KP twice in the IPL and will fancy their chances, but KP have been devastating as a batting unit, Marsh has been well supported by Hopes, Sanga and even skipper Yuvraj blitzed 49 off about 16 balls the other day. Hopefully they'll show their class and reach the final. these 20/20 games can go anyway though.

[kevshat]

This final is a bit more even than the odds suggest. The pitch isn't the best at this ground which brings Chennai into it.

10pts Chennai to beat Rajasthan 11/8 Totesport

Chennai have suffered a couple of hefty defeats to the Rajasthan Royals but they could be coming into this final at the right time. They were superb yesterday against the Kings XI and Dhoni has already shown that he can get a team to thrive on the finals stage when his Indian team won the world twenty20. A lot will depend on how his batting lineup deals with Tanvir as the Pakistan man has 9 wickets against them in the 2 matches they've played previously. Murali could be key for the Super Kings.

Rajasthan have been dealt a huge blow that Graeme Smith has been ruled out. Niraj Patel could come in to open. Warne's only other change is likely to be Kamran Akmal coming in to keep wicket. Man for man though this Royals side is probably slightly worse off. They won their semi final with a barrage of short bowling but I'm not sure this pitch will offer the bounce that the wankaday one did and in what I see as a match which could go either way, Chennai are the call.

[kevshat]

Rajasthan won on the last ball. Great game and a great way to end what's been a very good, if a little long tournament. Up and down for me at different times and today's loss has meant I end the tournament -4.60pts but it's been an enjoyable watch and I look forward to next year's tournament which I'd imagine will have the English players in it.

[Sir Fernando]

yep its been a good six weeks of cricket, made a profit.

glad Rajasthan won it in the end, they were the best side throughout the IPL and deserved to win it.