Betting tips / Jaymes Monte / 27 April 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Delhi cruised home to a one-sided win when they met Mumbai in their last IPL match, and Jaymes Monte expects a similar outcome again.

Delhi Daredevils
Since the arrival of Kevin Pietersen and Mahela Jayawardene Delhi have been nothing short of sensational. With just a single blemish on their record in the last five matches, Virender Sehwag's side have quite rightly become strong favourites to win IPL 5.

A couple of weeks ago Eoin Morgan bluntly, and accurately, tweeted: "DD top 5 is a joke". Although some have speculated that their batting is a little top heavy, surely that cannot be construed as a negative when Sehwag, Pietersen, Jayawardene and Ross Taylor provide that heaviness. With Irfan Pathan and Naman Ojha also more than capable of scoring big runs.

If we had to pick out a weak point in this Delhi side then it may be that they lack a top-class spinner. Especially when Roleof van der Merwe cannot get a place in the side due to the aforementioned batsmen taking up the majority of overseas players positions.

Mumbai Indians
As has become traditional with the IPL Mumbai began the campaign as tournament favourites, before predictably underachieving. Harbhajan Singh's captaining of the side has been questionable at best and considering he has only taken one wicket in the tournament so far it's difficult to justify his position in the side; although I don't expect he will be dropped.

Munaf Patel seems intent on gesticulating to his fielders at every possible opportunity and Mumbai have looked anything but a united team over the past three weeks.

Fortunately for the Indians Lasith Malinga should be available to play this Friday and that will offer a timely boost to a bowling attack that has lacked penetration. Mumbai have plenty of match winners with the bat, but Malinga is the only one who is in that category with the ball. Clint McKay could be the one to miss out to allow the Sri Lankan to return.

Match Odds
Having been skittled out for 92 - a total that was chased down in under 15 overs - at the Wankhede Stadium under a week ago it's difficult to see why Mumbai are given so much respect in the Match Odds market for this rematch with Delhi.

Malinga will obviously offer his side greater impetus with the ball and Sachin Tendulkar provides more stability at the top of the order, but I think I'd want to see Mumbai closer to the 2.3 mark before I'd even consider backing them.

I'd be happy backing Delhi's batsmen to chase down almost any target, and at 1.92 before a ball is bowled or a coin tossed in anger, they're a must back.

Top Delhi Batsman
Since KP's first game in IPL 5 either he or Sehwag have top scored in every one of Delhi's matches. Pietersen has looked the more complete and adaptable of the two players and if I had to pick one I'd go with him, but why risk it when you can dutch the pair for odds of over Evens. Back them both to level stakes.

Top Mumbai Batsman
Rohit Sharma has been hit and miss so far in this tournament, but when he gets it right he really does look like he could be something special. Coming in at number three allows him plenty of time to make his mark on an innings and I like the idea of backing him at 5.0 here.

Recommended Bet
Back Delhi to beat Mumbai @ 1.92