Betting tips / Andrew Hughes / 14 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

When they travel to Kolkata, Andrew Hughes thinks the in-form Super Kings will have what it takes to take out their IPL game against the Knight Riders.

Team News
Kolkata may want to recall Brendon McCullum for this one, although that means that either Shakib al Hasan or Brett Lee will have to drop to the bench.

Doug Bollinger has gone home but the arrival of fellow Aussies Ben Hilfenhaus and Michael Hussey has given Chennai much needed impetus and they look a settled team, so no changes are expected.

Venue and Conditions
Mumbai Indians hit 182 here last week, but they were the beneficiaries of some wayward Kolkata bowling. The pitches at Eden Gardens have generally been on the slow side, favouring bowlers who can vary their pace. The average first innings score there is 147 and anything over 150 has a good chance of being a winning total.

Match Odds
Chennai have not convinced this season but they have remained in contention and two successive wins have put them back into the top four, which is where we usually find them as the business end of the tournament approaches. Kolkata have the edge with their bowling, but they still haven't quite figured out their best batting line-up and are over-reliant on Gautam Gambhir and Jacques Kallis, whereas Chennai are looking settled, are high on confidence and full of players who know how to win these crunch end of season games. I favour the Super Kings to edge this one @1.86

Top Kolkata Batsman
Since we can't be sure that McCullum will play, we are left with a choice between Gambhir and Kallis and preference is for the big South African at 4.0 or so.

Top Chennai Batsman
Suresh Raina isn't back to his best form yet so the sensible option is to go with the experienced and reliable Michael Hussey in his IPL role of opener. He should be backed at 4.0 or better

Recommended Bet
Back Chennai Super Kings to beat Kolkata Knight Riders @1.86