T20 Champions league Betting: Uva v Yorkshire, Auckland v Sialkot

Oram is a big player for Uva
Ed Hawkins whets the appetite as the best domestic sides in the world do battle. On Tuesday, four sides will hope to get their qualifying campaign off to a fast start in Johannesburg but who is the value?
Uva Next
They may sound like an underwear range for a high-street chain, but the Sri Lankan champions are not to be sniffed at. They can call on Jacob Oram, the impressive New Zealand all-rounder, Shivanrine Chanderpaul and Umar Gul, who is still regarded as one of the finest death bowlers around.
Uva did not tear up the new Sri lanka Premier League, qualifying for the semi-finals in fourth, but this new franchise have melded quickly into a decent-looking unit.
Yorkshire
The runners-up in England's domestic competition may find themselves rather dim in terms of star quality. No matter. They may not be many teams who are more committed or 'together'. Unfortunately they will be without Jonny Bairstow, the England hitter. He has had to withdraw from a wrist injury.
Venue and conditions
Here are the first-innings scores from the domestic Twenty20 in South Africa at the Wanderers last season: 178/163/199/187. Good batting track eh? And that is reinforced by three of those sides batting first going on to win. We would expect 150 to be breached here.
Match odds
Jason Gillespie, the Yorkshire coach, has put the emphasis on enjoyment, which just goes to show how the White Rose county view themselves. Indeed, they will do well to qualify for the tournament proper, let alone challenge for the title.
They have a stiff task here and there is a fear that when English batsmen come up against sub-continental spin wizards, they crumble. It is justified. When Uva beat Hampshire in a warm-up on Sunday, Sachithra Senanayake, the off spinner, tied them in knots.
Yorkshire are, oddly, 1.804/5 favourites and Uva are something of a must bet at 2.226/5.
Top Uva batsman
Dilshan Munaweera and Upul Tharanga may well be the next Sri Lanka opening combo but it is Chanderpaul who will attract all the cash.
Top Yorkshire batsman
David Miller, the South African, was Yorkshire's top scorer last term in the domestic thrash with 390 runs in 12 games at a strike-rate of 153.54. He was also the second highest run-scorer in the tournament.
Recommended Bet: Uva Next @ 2.226/5
Auckland v Sialkot
Start time: 15.30
Auckland
Two defeats, albeit narrow, in last year's Champions League means punters will hardly be enthused by the Kiwis. Nor will the presence of ancient Azhar Mahmood, the Pakistan all-rounder, as something of a talisman. Still, they have been in South Africa for two weeks and will at least be competitive.
Sialkot
The first Pakistan outfit to take part. And they have been a big miss. Arguably the greatest Twenty20 side off all domestic tournaments, the Stallions once enjoyed a 25-game winning streak. Key name checks are Rana Naved, Imran Nazir and Shoaib Malik.
Venue and conditions
As above. And it should also be noted that the weather forecast is without rain.
Match odds
The 1.834/5 about the Pakistan champions is not big enough and probably also emphasises why Yorkshire are such poor value. Auckland cannot match the winning experience of Sialkot, even if they boast three current Kiwi internationals in Martin Guptill, Kyle Mills and Ronnie Hira. We're not tempted 2.226/5.
Top Auckland batsman
Guptill is the go-to man here. After emerging from Brendon McCullum's shadow in the last 12 months he retreated back from whence he came in the World T20. But he is a fast starter and has little to beat. Lou Vincent, there's a blast from the past, is also in the squad.
Top Sialkot batsman
Malik, who will bat No 4 or No 5, is something of a canny operator and was once Mr Reliable for Pakistan about six or seven years ago in ODIs. Nazir will attract cash and don't be surprised to see Naved promoted up the order.
Recommended Bet: Sialkot at 1.8810/11