The second qualifier will see Delhi Capitals facing a resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad team for a spot in the final on Sunday night. Here is a breakdown of the bets to consider from the IPL semi-final and the reasons for them.
Delhi Captials vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Monday 1am (AEDT)
Previous games
The Delhi Capitals were well below par against the Mumbai Indians in the qualifier. After conceding 200, the Capitals succumbed with a spectacular top-order collapse that quickly killed the game. There are obvious concerns for Delhi, including a floundering top order. Shikhar Dhawan has scored 525 runs this season, third in the run-scoring charts. However, that tally includes two successive centuries and four ducks. Prithvi Shaw has failed miserably this season and Shreyas Iyer hasn’t found much fluency either (433 runs at an average of 30.92).
Sunrisers, on the other hand, will be buoyant after a thrilling victory against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the eliminator. Kane Williamson struck a typically concerted, methodical, pressure-filled fifty to carry Sunrisers home along with Jason Holder’s calm finishing skills. Along with David Warner and Rashid Khan, not many can argue against the potency of their overseas talent. As has been the case with Sunrisers over the last few years, their bowling won them that game.
What to expect?
Let’s start with Delhi. For one, you can certainly expect a better performance. You might also see some changes to the overseas combination, with Daniel Sams making way. Delhi’s bowling has been terrific through the course of the season, apart from a crucial qualifier. Delhi’s top three will have a more cautious approach, trying to build an innings with some early momentum.
Sunrisers are known for choking teams from the top. Rashid Khan will continue the stranglehold in the middle overs and Holder’s experience should be handy at the end. Batting wise, David Warner will be keen to perform after an incorrect third-umpire decision against him in the eliminator. Williamson, Manish Pandey, Wriddhiman Saha and Holder are all in good batting rhythm too. That’s why my pick to make the final is …
Sunrisers Hyderabad
$1.80
Kagiso Rabada had a streak of more than 19 T20 matches with at least one wicket in each innings. While that streak has been broken, he has still taken 25 wickets this season, second behind only Jasprit Bumrah’s 27 wickets. He has been used effectively by captain Shreyas Iyer. He usually bowls one in the Powerplay, one between the 11th and 15th over and two at the death. That’s why his economy rate is quite high this season (8.30). However, that also means he has a higher probability of picking up wickets because batsmen are going after his bowling.
Rabada Most Team Wickets
$2.87
