IPL Betting: Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Kieron Pollard is tipped to top-score at big odds

Virtually every match is pivotal at this stage of IPL and Monday's encounter between two play-off hopefuls is no exception. The market says Mumbai, but Paul Krishnamurty reckons Hyderabad are a good value trade...

Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Start Time: BST (15:30)
TV: Live on ITV and itv.com

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai's star-studded line-up have failed to last the distance in previous IPLs, but this year increasingly looks different. Victory today would propel them to the top of the points table and the formbook very much points that way. Mumbai have won all six matches at the Wankhede Stadium, only one of which was even vaguely competitive, and were typically ruthless in Saturday's victory away to whipping boys Pune. The key difference this season has been their bowlers. Mitchell Johnson, Pragyan Ohja and Harbhajan Singh have all been superb, lessening the burden on Lasith Malinga and ensuring opponents get no breathing space.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

With their chief rivals RCB wobbling over the past week, Sunrisers have been presented a golden opportunity to make the play-offs in their first season. Victory today could propel them from fifth place to a tie for third with two home matches remaining. This match is easily the toughest on paper, but Sunrisers did win the reverse fixture easily, restricting Mumbai to just 129. Much will depend on whether Shikhar Dhawan and the rest of the top order can build a platform for the likes of Thisara Perera and Darren Sammy to smash boundaries at the end of the innings.

First Innings Runs

The boundaries at the Wankhede Stadium are very accessible and can therefore offer very big totals, as illustrated by Mumbai's first three efforts there this season, all of which were above 180. That reputation is always factored into the odds, however, and there is good reason to think today will be different due to the outstanding quality of both sets of bowlers. Another issue that could stem the flow of runs is that, at this late stage of the season, a lot of the pitches are used, slow and offering turn. I'll be looking to lay 150 or more at around 1.75/7.

Match odds

In cricketing terms, it is hard to construct a case against Mumbai, but they are worth opposing given such one-sided match odds. Sunrisers are the only bowling attack to have contained them and the visitors have gone from strength to strength since. Most IPL matches see both teams trade odds-on at some stage in-running, so my advice is to back the visitors pre-match at 2.747/4 with a view towards laying back for profit if they shorten below 1.51/2 at any stage.

Top Mumbai batsman

It's never easy to choose between Mumbai's high-class batsmen, so the best plan may be to back those at bigger prices. Kieran Pollard is a 10.09/1 chance because he rarely comes in before number five, but there is every chance that he'll be needed earlier than usual because the potent Steyn/Sharma partnership has claimed early wickets.

Top Hyderabad batsman

An identical argument applies here. Openers Dhawan and Patel have top-scored in five of the last six Sunrisers innings, but both will face a stiff early test against Mitchell Johnson. Instead, lets go for Thisara Perera at 11.010/1, who hit a pivotal 32 not out in their last match and has the power to do serious damage at this ground.

Recommended Bet (Back to Lay)

Back Sunrisers Hyderbad @ 2.747/4