IPL 2009 - Pathan needs to pave the way

RAJASTHAN Royals’ (+110) Yusuf Pathan will hold the key in the first match of tomorrow’s Indian Premier League (May 5) Durban double-header against Kings XI Punjab (-150).

The Indian all-rounder’s love of the Twenty20 format has again been evident this tournament and his adaptability will again be the key for the seventh placed Royals (P7/W3/L3/NR1) to overcome Kings (P7/W4/L3), who was forced into equal second with three others after Chennai Super Kings destroyed Deccan Chargers by 78 runs yesterday.

Pathan, man of the match in last year’s IPL final, is currently his team’s leading run scorer (169), which unfortunately doesn’t say much for the rest of the batting line-up when the likes of Proteas captain Graeme Smith is routinely failing at the top of the order.

If Pathan fires with bat or ball than match 29 of this year’s tournament will go down to the wire and increase your chances of winning with plenty of sports betting options at BetUS.com

The two teams met earlier in the tournament in Match 15 on April 26 with Kings winning by 27 runs.

Set 140 to win, Rajasthan’s top order showed no backbone losing 5/27 with only lower order heroics of captain Shane Warne (34no off 33 balls) and Ravindra Jadeja (37 off 44 ball) preventing a humiliating chase at Cape Town.

Earlier in the same match Kings gloveman Kumar Sangakkara (60 off 51 balls) propelled his team to their eventual winning total.

Our tip is for Kings to take the win on the back of a strong top order with the likes of Mahela Jayawardena, Simon Katich, captain Yuvraj Singh and Yusuf’s younger brother Irfan Pathan all playing consistent cricket.

In match 30, the equal first place sitting Delhi Daredevils (P6/W4/L2) will trounce Kolkata Knight Riders (P8/W1/L6/NR1) who is last on just three points.

These teams’ haven’t played each other yet but it is hard to see Kolkata (+150) rising to the challenge.

Delhi (-200) were left ruing a poor bowling performance in their last match against Chennai Super Kings allowing them to score 163 before failing to chase down the total falling 18 runs short and missing out on securing outright first position.

Australian pocket dynamo opener David Warner showed why he is one of the most dangerous and highly sought after IPL player scoring 51 off 40 balls in his first match of the tournament however without any support except for Dinesh Karthik’s 52 off 31 balls, Delhi fell just short.

Kolkata on the other hand, with just three points to their name, will need a minor miracle for a win.