Kolkata's Dinesh Karthik can pile on the runs against Hyderabad

Rajasthan v Bangalore
Sky Sports Cricket, 11.30am Saturday

Bangalore kept their playoffs hopes alive with a brutal batting display against Hyderabad, who boast the best bowling attack in the IPL, on Thursday and they are hot favourites to see off a depleted Rajasthan Royals side.

The Royals will be without England's Jos Buttler, who has dominated Rajasthan's runscoring recently with knocks of 39, 94 not out, 95 not out, 82, 51 and 67 in his last six appearances.

Buttler and Ben Stokes are returning to England to prepare for the first Test against Pakistan but Moeen Ali is available for Bangalore having missed out on the squad for Lord's.

Moeen enjoyed a swashbuckling partnership with AB de Villiers as Bangalore racked up 218-6 against leaders Hyderabad last time out and De Villiers looks the top-runscorer value.

The South African superstar struck 12 fours in his 39-ball 69 – testament to his 360-degree range of shots – before taking a stunning catch on the boundary to dismiss Alex Hales.

De Villiers's last six outings have featured scores of 90 not out, 68 and 72 not out as well as Thursday's 69 and he can continue his fine form against the Royals.

Recommendation
AB de Villiers top Bangalore runscorer
2pts 16-5 Betfair

Hyderabad v Kolkata
Sky Sports Cricket, 3.30pm Saturday

Kolkata have been well backed to seal their place in the playoffs with an away win over Hyderabad but the home side's bowlers have to be respected.

The Sunrisers were walloped by Bangalore last time out, with seamer Basil Thampi going for 70 runs in four wicketless overs, but spinner Rashid Khan still took 3-27 and Kolkata's top order can blow hot and cold.

One of the Knight Riders' more consistent batsmen has been skipper Dinesh Karthik, who saw them home with an unbeaten 41 against Rajasthan last time out and scored 50 against Kings XI Punjab in his previous innings.

Despite batting down at number five, Karthik is Kolkata's leading runscorer this season, with 412 runs in 13 games, and the 7-1 shot may well be required to rebuild after early wickets.

Recommendation
D Karthik top Kolkata runscorer
1pt 7-1 Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet

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