IPL - Bangalore v Kings Punjab XI (Mohali)

One of the IPL's battlers, Bangalore, take on one of the red-hot form sides, the Punjab outfit. Punjab have won four games on the trot and we have been most impressed by them. Unlike most other sides in the IPL they appear to have gotten better - not worse - when their high-profile international recruits left last week. Punjab's last two wins have come without Brett Lee and Simon Katich and the departure of that duo doesn't seem to have affected the side one bit. It obviously helps they have two other high quality Australians in James Hopes and Shaun Marsh - both ideally suited to this run-happy format of cricket.

Punjab don't seem to be letting anything get in their way and they have only got better since their fast bowler Sreesanth was involved in the slapping controversy with his Indian teammate Harbhajan Singh. Their opponents here Bangalore, have won just two from six and are sitting in second last place on the table. They are coming off a much-needed win in their last hit-out but it was probably nothing to write home about because it came against bottom-placed Hyderabad who currently have one hand on the wooden spoon.

Bangalore have so many batting problems that we don't know where to start. They simply don't have enough batting talent - or firepower - and even in their last win they only registered 8-156 which would not be enough to win most games. Bangalore skipper Rahul Dravid has proved a bleak dud in this 20-over format while Jacques Kallis is another who is not suited to the IPL and hasn't clicked with either bat or ball. Bangalore's only real plus is the form of their quick bowler Zaheer Khan who has proved a handful. But then again their spinner, Anil Kumble, hasn't taken a wicket and has gone for 69 in his two IPL games. It is possible Australian spinning allrounder Cameron White could come in for Bangalore here but he and Mark Boucher would need to be supermen because there is not enough batting talent in this side.

The way to assess this match - as with every IPL match - is to have a look at the possible batting lineups. Punjab: James Hopes (terrific), Shaun Marsh (up and comer who has already blossomed in IPL), Kumar Sangakarra (one of world's best batsmen), Yuvraj Singh (can destroy any bowling, no ground big enough to contain him) and Mahela Jayawardene (intelligent and vastly experienced cricketer). Now for Bangalore. Bharath Chipli (who?!), Wasim Jaffer (confirmed batting dud), Virat Kohli (you've got to be kidding!), Rahul Dravid (dud in T20 - don't get me started!), Misbah-ul-Haq (talented but done nothing in IPL), Mark Boucher (terrific cricketer but his name is Boucher not Batman!). And that's not including Jacques Kallis who hasn't fired a shot and could even get dropped here. And who cares, if he plays the way he has been going, he won't make an impact.

This game should just be one-way traffic - Punjab boast way too many big guns and Bangalore are largely clueless. They would need Zaheer Khan to take 5-20 and Mark Boucher to score 100 off 50 balls to be even a chance. We have no problems taking the 'shorts' here - even though Punjab are playing away. Launch into Punjab with a 2.5 unit bet at $1.6 with IASBet, Bill Hurley, TAB, Sportsbet, Norm Short, Col Tidy, or Betstar.

If you have even a quick look at the team sheets, you'll see Punjab has the dominant six hitting power so we are also suggesting a 1 unit bet on Punjab to hit the most sixes at $2.0 with IASBet or $1.95 at Bill Hurley, Lasseters & Centrebet. For our third bet in our biggest spread of bets in a single match, we think there is money to be made on Bill Hurley's market on which team hits the most runs in their first six overs. Punjab are $1.64 here and are a 1.5 unit bet. They are stars and Bangalore are duds at the top of the order. If that price goes get on at $1.61 with Will Hill.We really like this match and will approach all of our bets here with a lot of confidence. We know the underdogs are normally value in 20-over cricket but they are no value here. Punjab are a bet at $1.57, they should win and win easy. Enough said.

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