Indian Premier League - IPL 
/ Richard O’Hagan / 13 April 2011 / Leave a Comment 
AB De Villiers is the model of consistency and tailor-made for this format
"However, the listless Bangalore performance on Tuesday, and that fact that their star bowler Zaheer Khan has been woefully out of touch, suggests that Deccan have a better chance than their odds of [2.8] might suggest."
Two of the slow-starters of this year's IPL go to battle tomorrow afternoon and it's hard to have too much confidence in either. At the prices it's worth siding with the outsiders though, says Richard O'Hanlon.
Deccan
About the only thing that has gone right for the Chargers so far is that they still have the best team anthem in the competition (if you happen to like 1980s hair metal, that is).
None of their preferred overseas quartet of captain Kumar Sangakkara, JP Duminy, Dan Christian and Dale Steyn has really performed, and there has been little support from the local talent, even Test players such as Ishant Sharma and Pragyan Ojha.
Michael Lumb - a T20 World Cup winner with England twelve months ago - and Rusty Theron could come in for Duminy and Steyn, but Cameron White is unlikely to arrive from Bangladesh in time to play.
Bangalore
The Challengers had an easy win over the Tuskers in the third game of the tournament, but came badly unstuck against Mumbai on Tuesday.
Although both Tillekaratne Dilshan and AB de Villiers have found form with the bat, Dilshan's slow innings almost certainly contributed to the Indians' loss.
None of their bowlers seem to have found form bar Dirk Nannes, who was only able to bowl one over after picking up a niggle. Should he be injured, the temptation must be there to strengthen the batting by bringing in young South African Rilee Rossouw.
Match Odds
Deccan have been so poor in this tournament that it takes a brave man or woman to back them. However, the listless Bangalore performance on Tuesday, and that fact that their star bowler Zaheer Khan has been woefully out of touch, suggests that Deccan have a better chance than their odds of [2.8] might suggest.
Top Scorer odds
De Villiers, with a forty in the first game and a thirty in the second, never looks out of form and is a solid bet to top score for the visitors. He should be available at around [4.5] to top score for Bangalore.
Best Bet
Deccan Chargers to win at [2.8].
After their opening games Pune have the momentum, but Kochi fought well against Bangalore. The first meeting of the IPL new boys could be a close fought affair.
Punjab were woeful in their opening game and will need to improve considerably if they are to challenge the reigning champions.
Tobias Gourlay thinks there is value in backing the Bangalore Royal Challengers against the tournament favourites...
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