IPL / Ed Hawkins / 31 March 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Chennai have lost four matches in a row as their semi-final hopes have slumped alarmingly. Can they buck the trend against a Bangalore side who look to be one of the best in the tournament? Ed Hawkins previews this one

Team news
It is anyone's guess as to how Chennai will line-up for this contest. MS Dhoni has apparently been picking or dropping players on his gut feeling. The result has been four straight defeats. They desperately need Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger to arrive after Australia's Test tour of New Zealand.

Thilan Thushara, the Sri Lankan, played in the loss to Rajasthan last time out so could hold onto his place. Manpreet Gony and Sudeep Tyagi are other options.

Bangalore have Kevin Pietersen available and he should replace England teammate Eoin Morgan, who has had a disappointing return of 35 runs in four innings.

Venue and conditions
In all IPL matches played at the Chidambaram stadium the average first-innings score is a healthy 168. The lowest total recorded was King's XI's 136 this season which Chennai lost in the Super Over despite needing one from the last two balls when chasing.

Match odds
Chennai probably need five wins from their last seven games if they are to maintain their record of having never missed an IPL semi-final. Unfortunately they meet a Bangalore side who play with verve and brains - a heady combination in this format.

Bangalore, who have lost only twice and are the only side to beat Mumbai, are [1.80] favourites with Chennai [2.14]. Given the sides' respective records it is a surprise to see Bangalore so big. Indeed, when the sides met earlier in the tournament, Bangalore won cosily by 36 runs.

Chennai's best hope is that Bangalore are rusty after a five-day break or that Pietersen's arrival has caused a few ripples in an otherwise settled and happy camp.

Top batsman
Jacques Kallis has top scored four times in six matches and he still managed a contribution in Bangalore's loss to Delhi in their last match. He will go off as favourite for top Bangalore bat at no bigger than [4.50]. Robin Uthappa, with an unbeaten 68 in the previous meeting, is a potential alternative so long as Pietersen's arrival doesn't cause too much shuffling of the order.

Matt Hayden, with 32 against Bangalore in game 18, is Chennai's main man. But don't discount Suresh Raina, who with 194 runs is only 19 runs behind his teammate.

Featured market
Pietersen could struggle on the slow wickets and may find the intensity a culture shock from the stroll in the park that was England's Test tour of Bangladesh. Check lay prices for him to score 25.

Trivia
In last year's IPL, Pietersen played in six matches for Bangalore, losing four. When he left for England, Bangalore won seven from 10 on a run which took them all the way to the final.

Ed Hawkins says: back Bangalore at [1.80]