The Deccan Chargers will play the Kings XI Punjab at the De Beers Diamond Oval at Kimberley, in a match that assumes a lot of importance to both teams.

Deccan Chargers (9/2 at Coral to win tournament) are currently on ten points, eight of them coming off consecutive wins, where as the other win coming after three successive losses. On the other hand, the Kings XI Punjab, have had a very up and down sort of a tournament so far, what with four wins and five losses to be at eight points from nine games. Surprisingly, despite being ahead of Mumbai in the points table, they are still behind the bookies’ favourites list – Stan James offers 8/1 for Mumbai to clinch the trophy, while it offers 9/1 for Punjab to do the same.

Punjab’s problem through the tournament has been their bowling attack, but it should be bolstered by the return of Brett Lee from the series against Pakistan. Whether he plays or not, will depend on how much of a jet-lag he faces leading up to the game. S. Sreesanth is another who made his comeback in the previous game, and while his pace and swing is conducive for taking wickets – mind you, only when he is at his best – it is rather difficult to see him bowling the most economic spell of all the players. Instead, despite the pasting that Irfan Pathan – and all the rest – got from Matthew Hayden and M.S. Dhoni, he should be one of those who could contain the batsmen. Stan James offer 4/1 for him being the most economic bowler.

Yusuf Abdullah (9/2 at Stan James to be most economical) may have lost a bit of sheen, but if it does swing around even a little, he could prove to be quite a handful, and may just have regained the purple cap from R.P. Singh. He has only one problem though, R.P.Singh (9/2 at Stan James to be most economical) isn’t too far from getting a couple of wickets in the match and this should make for an even battle within a battle, between the two bowlers.

The batting will be led by Rohit Sharma (4/1 at Stan James to be top Chargers batsman) and Adam Gilchrist (3/1 at Sky bet to be top Chargers batsman) for the Chargers, while the duo of the skipper Yuvraj (7/2 at Sky Bet to be top Punjab scorer) and Kumar Sangakkara (3/1 at Sky Bet to be top Punjab scorer). However, Simon Katich (4/1 at Sky Bet to be best Punjab batsman) has regained his touch back, and one could very well hit a big one if he does manage to get a game (Lee’s return could mean that one of the four foreigners may have to be left out).

Currently, two of the top five six-hitters belong to the Chargers (11/10 at Stan James to hit more sixes), and my guess is that with Gilli and Rohit Sharma going all guns, they should hit more sixes than the Kings.

Tips:
Favourites: Deccan Chargers (8/11 at Stan James)
Top Deccan batsman: Adam Gilchrist (3/1 at Sky Bet)
Top Kings XI Punjab batsman: Simon Katich (4/1 at Sky Bet)
Most economical bowler: R.P. Singh (9/2 at Stan James)