Betting tips / Paul Bugeja / 12 May 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Gautam Gambhir has the Knight Riders in cruise control and Tobias Gourlay expects him to be the driving force behind another strong performance against Mumbai.

Kolkata

The Knight Riders have climbed to within a point of top-of-the-table Delhi. Gautam Gambhir's men are well placed to make the semi-finals, but must keep winning to make sure.

Mumbai

Before Friday's game, the Indians were third and holding a game in hand over a couple of the teams just below them. As ever, Lasith Malinga is among the tournament's top bowlers, ripping through opponents at a strike rate of 10 - the best of anyone who has bowled more than six overs.

The batting department is more problematic. Tendulkar has been solid, if unspectacular, since returning from injury, but lacks a reliable opening partner. The Indians are the only franchise without a single player who has passed 300 runs for the season.

Venue & conditions

So far only four of the six games scheduled for Eden Gardens have been completed in full. Three of the four first innings scores have fallen short of 160. Last week 150 was good enough for Kolkata to beat Pune.

Match Odds

The Knight Riders have won six in a row. Another couple of points would be handy and the extra incentive to win today is that they would deal a blow to the chances of one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Kolkata are 1.85 jollies for this match. The Indians have been as erratic as their captain this season, but, while Harbhajan has Malinga in his armoury, his team will be dangerous outsiders.

Top Kolkata Batsman

Gautam Gambhir has hit five fifties for the Knight Riders - only Bangalore's Chris Gayle has made more this season - and passed 30 in each of his last six knocks. If he opens the batting again, back him to top-score. Then, if he gets another start, there will be an opportunity to lay off for profit.

Top Mumbai Batsman

Rohit Sharma is the Indians' leading run-scorer. The overseas players have collectively averaged just 16 at a pedestrian strike rate of 107, leaving this market open to local talent. Ambati Rayudu does not have the reputation of Sharma or Tendulkar and sometimes offers a bit of value, but his batting position is changeable.