MUMBAI INDIANS VS HIGHVELD LIONS: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CRICKET: BETTING ODDS AND PREDICTIONS

Friday sees the kick off of another hotly anticipated cricket spectacle. With the game suffering on the back of negative publicity following the England vs. Pakistan spot-fixing controversy, many will be eager to get back to business and settle down for some thrilling 20/20 entertainment between the world’s top specialist sides.The opener for the tournament see’s Indian powerhouse – the Mumbai Indians- taking on South African based Highveld Lions in Johannesburg.The Mumbai side is in a word...class. With a batting line up boasting names like Tendulkar, Duminy and Bravo, coupled with bowlers the likes of Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh and Malinga, one would feel that this side is just too good to bet against...and in most cases this would be correct. However, this is 20/20 cricket...and it is a wild ride. From a Lions standpoint Petersen is the only current international in the squad, with Neil McKenzie the most experienced, and Zander be Bruyn and Vaughn van Jaarsveld making up the contingent of the 'nearly but not quite men'From the bookies perspective there will be only one winner in this tussle...and that will be Mumbai. Betfair feel that this, while thought to be a one-sided affair, will still suffer the adrenaline rush associated with this form of the game. They offer Mumbai at 1.43, with the lesser favoured Lions team at 3.25.Paddypower have a sensational set-up with a full range of scenario betting opportunities. Top scorer odds for Mumbai falls heavily on veteran and legend Tendulkar at 3.25 with Indian counterpart Dhawan at 5.5. On the Lions side Petersen is highly ranked to top the Lions scoreboard at 3.25 with van Jaarsveld at 4.5. One to watch on this will be the 'hot and cold' Thami Tsolekile at 15.0- once this kid gets going he can be awesome to behold.Highest partnership stakes are favoured to Mumbai at 1.66, with the same odds reflected in their favour for 'Highest score after 1st 6 overs'. Another great scenario bet lies with the 'Method of first dismissal' option, with caught by an outfield player coming in at favourite at 1.83, and my personal prediction of bowled 4.33One thing to take into consideration when reviewing this game is that the Lions play as a team day in and day out, across formats; whereas the Mumbai superstars gather for a month or so every year...only for Twenty20's...with their team future relying on a somewhat comical auction. My point...one team are a team, the other are not...this presents a unique scenario in a unique sport, and a hell of a ride leading into the opener.