T20 Champions League Betting: Lions on the Verge

Highveld Lions star batsman Gulam Bodi

The South African side have to be backed to reach the last four, says Andy Tongue as he previews Saturday's matches in the T20 Champions League...

Venue/Conditions
The Group B action returns to the Wanderers, Johannesburg where the quick, bouncy wickets have troubled the IPL sides so far but won't cause any problems for the Highveld Lions, whose home ground it just happens to be. Showers are forecast throughout the day so both matches could be affected in some way.

Highveld Lions vs Yorkshire
Start Time: 12.30
TV: Live on Eurosport

Lions
A fairly straight-forward defeat to the Sydney Sixers ended the Lions winning run but, back at their home ground, they will be confident of earning a third victory of the tournament against the English outfit, which would take them into the semi-finals. Gulam Bodi has led the way with the bat but skipper Alviro Petersen is struggling and is yet to make a contribution at the top of the order. Slow left-armer Aaron Phangiso has been their star with the ball.

Yorkshire
Hammered by Sydney and then rescued by the rain against Mumbai, it's fair to say that the White Rose have been a little out of their depth in the tournament proper so far. Losing their best T20 batsman David Miller back to his domestic commitments hasn't helped but they look short of the required class with both bat and ball.

Match Odds
The Lions are priced up predictably short at 1.548/15 but on their home ground and with the huge carrot of knowing a win takes them through we'll go against our usual strategy and back the hot favourites.

Top Lions Batsman
Bodi is in fine form and as a self-proclaimed confidence player, it makes sense to back him again while his tail is up.

Top Yorkshire Batsman
Opener Phil Jacques has been threatening a decent score at the top of the order.

Recommended Bet: Back the Lions at 1.548/15

Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Start Time: 16.30
TV: Live on Eurosport

Super Kings
The Super Kings have come off second best against both Sydney and the Lions without performing too badly in either match; just not quite being able to raise their game to the required heights. Suresh Raina has made runs in both matches but needs support from those big-name batsmen around him while the bowling has lacked penetration.

Indians
Rather unlucky to be in the situation they are with rain intervening against Yorkshire when they looked to have put a match-winning total on the board they will have something to prove. An attack boasting Lasith Malinga, Mitchell Johnson and Harbhajan Singh should be the match of any and the batting isn't short of class acts either.

Match Odds
If the Lions beat Yorkshire in the first game this becomes a dead rubber with nothing more than inter-IPL pride to play for in which case the sensible option, in what looks an evenly matched clash, is to back the side at the bigger price, which is Mumbai at 2.021/1.

Top Super Kings Batsman
Michael Hussey hasn't performed up to expectations so far but is far too good a player not to get runs on the board soon.

Top Indian Batsman
Sachin Tendulkar would love to lead the way for his team in a big IPL derby clash.

Recommended Bet: Back the Mumbai Indians at 2.021/1