As the Indian Premier League group stage reaches its conclusion, gamblers are faced with their worst nightmare.
Teams playing who do need to win against those who dont. Trying to fathom whether the former will be too tight to perform or the latter too lazy is a nightmare.
Such contests have already thrown up strange performances and results. Sunrisers Hyderabad looked a completely different team in taking a pasting in the field against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
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Then bottom-of-the-table Delhi Daredevils stunned Chennai Super Kings. Again, they looked a completely different team.
Previously Sunrisers had been meanness personified with ball in hand. Previously Delhi sprayed it around like the middle classes do after a hosepipe ban. Its as if they switched personality.
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At least there is a semblance of form. Sunrisers and Chennai both had already qualified. Neither seemed particularly bothered about finishing top of the section, then.
Worth bearing in mind when Chennai take on Kings XI Punjab on Sunday in their final match before the play-offs.
Kings XI absolutely have to win to stand any chance of getting back into the top four. Chennai will only drop out barring some mathematics which would make Carol Vordermans eyes bleed.
The bookmakers are keen on Chennai. They are 4-6 with every bookie going, apart from Bet Victor who go 7-10. Kings are 27-20 with Marathon Bet.
Taking that price is a little risky considering their confidence. They have lost six of their last seven.
It has been an extraordinary collapse from Kings, who at the halfway stage looked certainties for qualification. Over time, however, they been exposed as a two-man team.
More: Cricket
KL Rahul scores all of their runs, AJ Tye takes all the wickets. The pair are bang in the running for top bat and top bowler in the tournament respectively. Perhaps they should be called Kings II Punjab.
Betting Rahul to top score here at 11-5 with Betfair Sportsbook is fair. Likewise the 7-4 that should be available for Tye to take most wickets for Kings. Rely on these two rather the other nine.
MORE: Joe Root explains decision to recall IPL gun Jos Buttler for Pakistan series
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As the Indian Premier League group stage reaches its conclusion, gamblers are faced with their worst nightmare.
Teams playing who do need to win against those who dont. Trying to fathom whether the former will be too tight to perform or the latter too lazy is a nightmare.
Such contests have already thrown up strange performances and results. Sunrisers Hyderabad looked a completely different team in taking a pasting in the field against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
More: Cricket
Then bottom-of-the-table Delhi Daredevils stunned Chennai Super Kings. Again, they looked a completely different team.
Previously Sunrisers had been meanness personified with ball in hand. Previously Delhi sprayed it around like the middle classes do after a hosepipe ban. Its as if they switched personality.
Advertisement Advertisement
At least there is a semblance of form. Sunrisers and Chennai both had already qualified. Neither seemed particularly bothered about finishing top of the section, then.
Worth bearing in mind when Chennai take on Kings XI Punjab on Sunday in their final match before the play-offs.
Kings XI absolutely have to win to stand any chance of getting back into the top four. Chennai will only drop out barring some mathematics which would make Carol Vordermans eyes bleed.
The bookmakers are keen on Chennai. They are 4-6 with every bookie going, apart from Bet Victor who go 7-10. Kings are 27-20 with Marathon Bet.
Taking that price is a little risky considering their confidence. They have lost six of their last seven.
It has been an extraordinary collapse from Kings, who at the halfway stage looked certainties for qualification. Over time, however, they been exposed as a two-man team.
More: Cricket
KL Rahul scores all of their runs, AJ Tye takes all the wickets. The pair are bang in the running for top bat and top bowler in the tournament respectively. Perhaps they should be called Kings II Punjab.
Betting Rahul to top score here at 11-5 with Betfair Sportsbook is fair. Likewise the 7-4 that should be available for Tye to take most wickets for Kings. Rely on these two rather the other nine.
MORE: Joe Root explains decision to recall IPL gun Jos Buttler for Pakistan series
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