IPL 2009 - Deccan Vulnerable at the Top

We move into the third week of the Indian Premier League in South Africa and a log jam at the top of the table is unlikely to be resolved after today’s matches.

But that is a good thing for the punters however with several IPL betting options giving you the chance to make amends for a few upsets in week two of the competition.

Taking a parlay for the favourites looks to be the way to go today with Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils facing weaker opponents, however week two showed that strange things can happen and picking the outsiders can also prove to be a solid investment.

Need any more reasons to check in at the BetUS Sportsbook? Well here is what we think of today’s matches.

Top placed Deccan Chargers (-165) faltered in their last match against Delhi Daredevils and it was their top order, which proved vulnerable and is where the Rajasthan Royals (+135) will need to strike and strike early.

The sixth placed Royals (P6/W2/L3/NR1) toyed with opening the bowling with spinner Yusuf Pathan in their last match and it paid dividends when he claimed Chennai openers Matthew Hayden and Parthiv Patel.

If they go down the same path and Pathan can remove Deccan’s (P5/W4/L1) Adam Gilchrist and Herschelle Gibbs than they are in with a chance.

More interestingly however will be how a report on the suspect action of left arm seamer Kamran Khan will affect the Royals.

Khan was reported in his last match and although available to play until proven guilty, the fact he is just 18, could provide a mental stumbling block for the kid and his team.

Royals captain Shane Warne will have to keep a close eye on the youngster.

But Warne will need to fire up his batsmen who again failed to impress in their last match with only four reaching double figures chasing Chennai’s less than imposing 5/164.

For us it is Deccan to win.

In the other match of the day, Delhi Daredevils (-140) will be hoping to recreate history when they take on Chennai Super Kings (+110) at Johannesburg.

Delhi (P5/W4/L1) beat fifth placed Chennai (P6/W2/L3/NR1) in match nine of this year’s IPL thanks to an AB de Villiers’ ton (105no off 54 balls).

Set an imposing 190 runs to win on a flat Durban track, Chennai fell an agonising nine runs short of the total with Matthew Hayden (57 off 27 balls) and Suresh Raina (41 off 27 balls) laying a solid platform.

Raina’s fine vein of form has continued, scoring 98 off 55 balls in his last match against the Royals before right-arm seamer Lakshmipathy Baji claimed 4/21 off 3.3 overs.

Baji was also the pick of the bowlers against Delhi in match nine taking 3/19 off four overs. Also up their sleeve is Muttiah Muralidaran who is, as we all know, a devastating bowler.

Delhi’s Tillakaratne Dilshan (52 off 46 balls) and wicket keeper Dinesh Karthik (41 off 30 balls) powered their team home against Deccan Chargers after the top order failed for the second time this tournament but don’t expect them to do it again against Chennai.

Our tip is for Delhi to romp home.