Kings XI imports ready to deepen Bangalore gloom

Bangalore v Kings XI Punjab
Sky Sports 3, 3.30pm Friday

Ante-post favourites Bangalore Royal Challengers have no hope of making the IPL playoffs after winning only two of their 11 games this season.

Such is the clout of Bangalore’s star names, however, that they are still favourites with most bookmakers for a home win over Kings XI Punjab.

Bangalore’s batting has disappointed time and again this season, with doubts over the form and fitness of key trio Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle.

In their last three completed innings, the Royal Challengers have amassed just 279 runs for the lost of 29 wickets and Kings XI’s bowlers should be full of confidence after reducing Delhi to 67 all out last time out.

Martin Guptill, Hashim Amla, Shaun Marsh and Glenn Maxwell are an excellent set of overseas batsmen and Kings XI, still in the hunt for a top-four place, could deepen Bangalore’s gloom.

There are seven One-Day Cup matches taking place with buoyant Somerset bidding for a fourth straight victory when they travel to Glamorgan and a London derby between Surrey and Middlesex at The Oval.

Yorkshire, missing England contingent Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, David Willey, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid, could be worth opposing at Worcestershire.

A win would take Worcestershire above Yorkshire in the North Group and Joe Leach’s side, bolstered by Australia all-rounder John Hastings, won their first two matches before a pulsating tie with Northamptonshire on Wednesday.

Recommendations
Kings XI Punjab
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Worcestershire
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