Chennai Super Kings will play the Deccan Chargers in the 39th game of the Indian Premier League 2011. The game will be played at the Chepauk in Chennai between two sides which have won the previous games that they played in previously.
Chennai v Deccan odds:
The Chennai Super Kings (6/11 at
Bwin) have won four out of the seven games that they have played in while the Chargers have lost those many from seven. The Super Kings will have an edge over the opponents given that a balanced Chennai side with momentum on their side is a difficult one to beat. The Chargers (17/1 at
Paddy Power) will take confidence into the game though, having defended 130 against the Tuskers.
Ground and Pitch:
The Chennai wicket will show signs of slowing down as the tournament progresses and as could be seen from the previous result, where they defended 142. It will not get any easier for this game.
Player News:
The Super Kings have been bolstered well by the presence of Michael Hussey at the top of the innings, who keeps coming up with these hustled-bustled innings and guiding the side on the most difficult of pitches. That, however, one would come to expect from someone like him. What has been really helpful for the Super Kings has been the run-scoring off the bat of S Badrinath who has scored 235 runs in the tournament at an average of 117.
In the last game, Suresh Raina also showed signs of returning back to form after having struggled through the rest of the tournament.
Deccan Chargers may have been hindered by the difficult pitch in the previous game, but it was not for the first time that the batting hadn’t clicked for them. Kumar Sangakkara, despite his half century, was lucky to be there after being bowled off a no-ball earlier and Cameron White’s travails have refused to relent.
What the Charges could need is for Shikhar Dhawan to bat through the innings at his end while the rest can play their shots when required.
Prediction:
Chennai should go into the game as favourites to win it. They have the form on their side and if the top order can see Dale Steyn’s opening spell off, things will be in the favour of Chennai Super Kings.
