Written by Rick John Henry for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Kings XI Punjab vs Hobart Hurricanes | Thursday 18 September | Mohali | 16:30
IPL runners-up and arguably the most impressive side in this year’s cricketing circus, the Kings XI Punjab get their Champions League T20 campaign underway against the Hobart Hurricanes. Punjab have strong Australian leanings by virtue of their recent signings, which is probably the only one of their qualities that plays into the hands of the Hurricanes. KXIP proved ferocious with the bat and disciplined with the ball in the IPL, while Hobart managed to overturn the odds with their second place finish in the Big Bash League. They will again look to thrive off of their status as underdogs, belligerence a common trait in all Australian sides. A slip up for either side could prove disastrous, as the format of the Champions League T20 is less than forgiving.
To Win
Kings XI Punjab 8/10
Tie 35/1
Hobart Hurricanes 21/20
Kings XI Punjab
In previous years and former IPL competitions, the Kings XI were generally considered part mid-table mediocrity and part whipping boys. Some fantastic work in the most recent IPL auction rejuvenated the side, so much so that they dominated IPL 2014. Recording eleven wins from their fourteen matches, the Kings XI topped the log and powerfully navigated their way through the knockout stages only to be thwarted by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the final. Nonetheless, it was a successful tournament, perfectly illustrated by Wriddhiman Saha’s unbeaten 115 and Vohra’s 67 catapulting the side to 199 and leaving KKR the biggest chase in IPL final history. Unfortunately the Kings XI couldn’t defend it, their attack proving expensive on the day. They were missing star seamer Sandeep Sharma and will again be without the paceman, ruled out of the Champions League T20 with injury.
Sharma chipped in with eighteen wickets in his eleven IPL matches and will be sorely missed. Mitchell Johnson and Lakshmipathy Balaji will likely lead the attack, Parwinder Awana the third seamer. The Kings XI spin options lie in the hands of Karanveer Singh and the hugely impressive Akshar Patel. Merely 20-years-old, Patel finished sixth on the IPL wicket-taking list with seventeen scalps. However, the bowling department is the only area that the Kings XI Punjab look light on personnel. Virender Sehwag and Manan Vohra – another prodigiously talented youngster – will form the opening partnership, with David Miller, Glenn Maxwell, Saha and George Bailey in the middle-order. Lower order hitting comes in the form of Thisara Perera and Johnson. Maxwell in particular will be one to watch, the Australian seldom translating his efforts in domestic cricket to the international stage.
Hobart Hurricanes
Finishing in fourth spot on this year’s Big Bash League table, the Hurricanes snatched a spot in the semi-finals by virtue of a big innings from Ben Dunk. Not many gave Hobart much of a chance of reaching the final and automatic entry into the Champions League. Facing the Melbourne Stars, unbeaten at that stage with eight wins from eight matches and hot favourites to win the tournament, the Hurricanes managed to strangle their opponents’ attacking instincts and limit them to 141/8 from their twenty overs. Legspinner Cameron Boyce claimed 3/11 and was key in stifling Melbourne. Captain Tim Paine, Player of the Tournament Ben Dunk and George Bailey (captaining KXIP) took the Hurricanes comfortably over the line. Bailey replicated his form in the final but the Perth Scorchers had too many on the board for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will miss the solid presence of George Bailey in the middle order. They don’t lack talent; Dunk managed a move to the Mumbai Indians but struggled to break into the starting line-up, Travis Birt packs a mighty punch and Tim Paine’s consistent contributions are not to be undervalued. In the bowling department, the experience of Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus will count for much while Ben Laughlin finished the Big Bash League with eighteen wickets from eight matches at an average of a shade under 12.00. Xavier Doherty should thrive on the turning subcontinent pitches. However, it is Shoaib Malik who lurks as a dark horse for the Hobart Hurricanes. He averages 38.00 from 165 T20 innings, his strike-rate 121.58. He also recently bludgeoned five sixes in one over against Hong Kong in a CLT20 warm-up last week. If he keeps his game in order, the Hurricanes could surprise on the world stage.
Venue
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali plays host to the fixture and also happens to be the home ground of the Kings XI. Of the three IPL matches they played at the ground last term, they lost only once, to the the Mumbai Indians. With the crowd fully behind the home side, travelling to Punjab will not prove an easy task. The weather forecast is clear.
VERDICT: Kings XI Punjab 8/10
The IPL runners-up should simply have too much firepower at their disposal for a Hobart Hurricanes side who will battle ably, but ultimately fall short against sides intricately designed for the rigours of such a tournament. KXIP didn’t fail to impress at any stage of the most recent IPL and I expect them to pick up where they left off.
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