Written by Rick John Henry for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Hobart Hurricanes | Thursday 02 October | Hyderabad | 12:30
The Champions League T20 reaches the business end with two high-octane semi-finals to digest. The first of a semi-final double-header in Hyderabad on Thursday sees an unbeaten Kolkata Knight Riders take on the only side to make it through to the knockouts that does not call India their home, the Hobart Hurricanes. The Big Bash League runners-up have punched above their weight to reach this late stage of the tournament, a unified team cohesion contributing greatly to their success. Kolkata Knight Riders are currently the world’s most dangerous side, and will have records on their mind going into this clash.
To Win
Kolkata Knight Riders 5/10
Tie 35/1
Hobart Hurricanes 16/10
Kolkata Knight Riders
The IPL defending champions have stretched their unbeaten run to thirteen matches, fourth on the list of consecutive T20 victories. Surrey recorded the same amount, Otago went one better, but it will take nothing short of sheer magic for Kolkata to best the record set by the Sialkot Stallions. The Pakistani side went undefeated in T20 competition for a staggering 25 matches, played over a five-year period. However, even in the likely event that Kolkata fall short of Sialkot’s magnificent record, the magnitude of what they have achieved will not be ignored. The IPL is the most competitive T20 competition on the planet, with the Champions League T20 a close second. They need only two more victories to be crowned champions of both.
Their formula of bowling first, limiting scores with their spin trio and chasing them down was tested against the Dolphins. For the second time in the aforementioned thirteen matches, Kolkata batted first. However, the match followed a similar pattern. Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey put on a 153-run partnership, the highest in this year’s competition, while Narine and Co. strangled the Dolphins’ chase. Sunil Narine will likely play the semi-final, though having been yet another spinner reported for a suspect action, another indiscretion will see him miss the final. As the tournament’s top wicket-taker and Kolkata’s MVP, it is of utmost importance that Narine not bowl his quicker ball in this match, that particular delivery causing the most trouble for umpires. On the plus side, Suryakumar Yadav has developed into an effective finisher while skipper Gautam Gambhir has now led in 100 T20 matches.
Hobart Hurricanes
Although the Hobart Hurricanes lost their opening match to eventual Group B leaders the Kings XI, they showed solidity in their remaining fixtures to register wins over the Cape Cobras, Barbados Tridents and Northern Districts Knights. A large part of their success is owed to their opening attack, a pair who your trusted writer observed as being “over the hill.” Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger have managed to prove any critics wrong, extracting movement in conditions that are not necessarily helpful. Both have eight wickets to their name after four matches and early breakthroughs will be key against Kolkata. They have been perfectly followed by an intelligent Xavier Doherty, who has managed to exploit the turn on offer while also keeping a tidy economy.
An interesting bit of trivia exists in the form of leg-spinner Cameron Boyce. Called up to the Australian T20 side, he has only played one CLT20 game so far for Hobart. If they make the final, Boyce will be forced to miss a possible Australian debut, instead carrying drinks in Bangalore. He may be the only one of the Hobart Hurricanes content with losing this fixture. In the batting department, Aiden Blizzard is the danger man and, backed up by power-hitters Ben Dunk and Travis Birt, provides a powerful platform should they be able to navigate the spin threat. Shoaib Malik seems to have made a return to form and will be a key man in negotiating Kolkata’s spin trio from the middle-order.
Venue
Hyderabad hosts the semi-final double-header on Thursday, the same ground that Uthappa and Pandey racked up 153 runs together against the Dolphins. In fact, Kolkata have played all of their Champions League T20 matches at the ground and will begin to consider it a second home. The weather report bodes well, with no chance of rain.
VERDICT: Kolkata Knight Riders 5/10
I don’t believe there is much that can stop the Kolkata juggernaut at present, except for perhaps a ban on Narine. He will most definitely feature here and again prove his worth as the Knight Riders do what they do best; strangle batsmen and dispatch bowlers. Don’t look any further than a Knight Riders win here.
Disagree with our tipster? Let us hear your thoughts. Please comment below.
