The last two rounds of matches of the round-robin phase before the play-offs sees two games ahead of weekend double-headers as follows:
Thursday 11th May
Mumbai Indians v Kings XI Punjab
Mumbai lost to Sunrisers last time out when restricted to a total of 138/7 but are still top of the table with two games to play, this game and then KKR at the weekend. Finishing the group stages in the top two is important as 1stv 2nd playoff in an eliminator for the final, the winners going straight to the last game and avoiding the rest of the play-offs.
Kings XI won the first of their three “must win” games when beating KKR on Tuesday, defending a total of 167 at home which was a great achievement against a strong batting order. Their run is tough. Assuming they beat Mumbai here they have to beat ne at the weekend, the side currently above them in 4th and the play-off places.
Prices in green listed bookmakers here assume that Mumbai will win and secure that top two place, they are 8/11 versus KXIP at 11/10 in Coral. A Mumbai win has to be the central expectation, at home and having only lost 3 games out of 12
Friday 12th May
Delhi Daredevils v Rising Pune Supergiants
Depending on the result of the KXIP game above, Rising Pune will know if they have secured a playoff spot by the time they take to the field here.
A young Delhi side are out of contention, play Gujarat on Wednesday and really shouldn’t be too much of a threat to a Pune side that is really beginning to hit its straps in this competition with big name big game players like Stokes, Smith and Dhoni leading the way.
Prices are closer than we might have expected here, Delhi evens and Pune 5/6. I would be surprised if Pune didn’t win and they are a decent bet at 5/6 in Bet365.