Champions League T20 Betting: Auckland v Perth, Delhi v Titans

Sehwag is Delhi's top bat so far

Ed Hawkins analyses Tuesday's Group A encounters at Newlands

Auckland v Perth
Start time: 12.30
TV: live on Eurosport

Auckland
The Kiwis must win against the eliminated Scorchers to stand a chance of making the semi-finals. But even if they do triumph it may not be enough as a win for Titans against Delhi will guarantee the South African side progress. A big win for the Titans may see them sneak in the back door on run rate, however.

Perth
The Scorchers were beaten by three wickets last time out against Delhi which ended their hopes of a last-four spot. And they will rue that their batting went missing. From 81 for one in the 13th over they managed only 121. That was a pathetic effort and despite the best efforts of their bowlers, who took seven wickets, their chances slipped away.

Venue and conditions
Here are the first-innings scores at Centurion in the tournament so far: 121-148-163-160. This is a pretty standard study for a surface in Twenty20 matches and there is not a significant enough trend one way or the other to suggest a play of less, or more, than 160 on the innings runs market. There is a two-two split on the toss bias. No rain is forecast.

Match odds
A tricky one. With one side out and the other desperate for a win, it could be considered a no brainer. But we thought that about Titans versus the previously hopeless Kolkata, and look how that turned out. Both sides are efficient and disciplined but if there is an edge, it may be that Auckland's batting is not as inferior as we would have thought before Perth's horror show against Delhi. Auckland are 2.265/4 with Perth 1.738/11. We can't see how such a gulf is justified.

Top Auckland batsman
Azhar Mahmood has ground form having smashed a half-century against Hampshire in qualifying.

Top Perth batsman
The Scorchers could only muster 127 on this ground previously against Titans as their batting flopped. That is another warning sign for the Australians. Mitchell Marsh top scored in that one with 52 from 41 balls.

Recommended bet
Back-to-lay Auckland at 2.265/4

Delhi v Titans
Start time: 16.30
TV: live on Eurosport

Delhi
The most impressive of the Indian sides. Not surprising really as their international batting line-up, Virender Sehwag aside, has coped far better on the fast, bouncy surfaces than their IPL counterparts. The group leaders should hold on for a semi-final spot.

Titans
We've lost faith in the Titans following their inexplicably bad performance against a dreadful Kolkata side. We have no idea how they could concede 188 and then be bowled out for 89. Rarely does a solid Twenty20 side be made to look so ordinary from one game to the next. Perhaps they will blame the notoriosly tough Cape Town lights for their failing?

Venue and conditions
Titans beat Perth at Centurion, scoring 163 earlier in the tournament. Delhi also enjoyed a cosy win over KKR, notching 160 batting first.

Match odds
We can't bet Delhi as short as 1.548/15 but we are so disappointed with Titans that the 2.546/4 makes little appeal. Still, perhaps emotion is taking over. Granted they let down a swathe of backers at big odds against KKR, but they should be good for a foothold. A back-to-lay is the best option.

Top Delhi batsman
Sehwag is Delhi's top runscorer with 74 runs. Mahela Jayawardene and Kevin Pietersen do not have 50 runs between them.

Top Titans batsman
Jacques Rudolph, Mr Reliable, top scored in CT with 25 from 24 balls. He also top scored at Centurion against Perth with 89 from 59 balls.

Recommended bet
Back-to-lay Titans at 2.546/4