Champions League Twenty20 Betting – Upsets aplenty in group stages

There were surprises aplenty in the opening salvo of the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 and most of it surrounded the performances of the illustrious Indian Premier League franchises against domestic cricket teams from around the world.

Sporting million dollar teams, the three IPL squads were considered sure things to cruise through their opening round clashes however all three were put to the sword by their less fancied opposition.

Royal Challengers Bangalore – who feature the likes of Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor and Dale Steyn – were made to work hard in their Group C with the unheralded South African provincial outfit, the Cape Cobras topping their pool.

The Cape Cobras based their winning ways around Herschelle Gibbs and JP Duminy, the latter of which fired a 99no in their opening round defeat of Bangalore to get their tournament off to the perfect start.

The Delhi Daredevils were another team which cricket betting odds had as clear favourites of their pool however it came down to run-rate to see which of the three teams in Group D would make it through. Victoria Bushrangers and Sri Lanka’s only team in the competition, the Wayamba Eleven all pushed each other in a tightly fought group.

Deccan Chargers, led by the inimitable Adam Gilchrist and starring VVS Laxman and Andrew Symonds – humbled by England county side Somerset in their opening match which put them in real risk of losing a second round berth.

Their future lay in the result in the final match of the opening round robin stage of the tournament when they took on Trinidad and Tobago in Group A.

Their match went down to the wire with T&T keeping the IPL franchise in check the entire match before sending them packing from the tournament on the last ball.

Group B didn’t go to plan with rank outsiders from South Africa, the Diamond Eagles knocking Sussex Sharks out of second round play while the star-studded NSW Blues cruised through easily atop of their pool.

The second round of the tournament is broken into two leagues and each team plays two matches, the top two teams of each league qualify for the semi finals.