Hyderabad and Bengal meet after big wins

Match facts

Nov 8, 2008
Start time 7.30pm (1400 GMT

Hyderabad Heroes and the Royal Bengal Tigers, who have both confirmed their places in the semi-finals, after Lahore Badshahs' comfortable win over the Dhaka Warriors on Thursday, will meet for a preparatory game in the lead-up to the semis. Hyderabad go into the match with their confidence sky-high, following their 79-run win, the highest margin of victory in the tournament, over Mumbai Champs on Wednesday. Their score of 214 is also the highest in the competition.

Both of Bengal's defeats have been comprehensive; they lost to Ahmedabad Rockets by eight wickets and sustained a nine-wicket loss to Chandigarh Lions in the same week. However, they will be buoyed by their resounding nine-wicket win over Chennai Superstars, who head the points-table, on Tuesday.

Both teams have won five games and lost two, but Hyderabad have a significantly higher net run-rate, boosted by their win in their most recent game against Mumbai. With Lahore, who have a run-rate higher then Hyderabad, having all but confirmed their place in the semis, a loss for either side will mean slipping down the points table to the fourth place. The actual draw for the semi-final will be determined when Lahore take on Chennai in their final league game on Sunday.

Hyderabad- WLWWL
Bengal- WLWLW

Stats

Nicky Boje has clearly been the star for Hyderabad in this competition with brilliant all-round figures; He has scored the most runs for his team -238 - and taken the most wickets - 10. He was largely responsible for the one-sided affair against Mumbai on Wednesday, scoring 88 in 49 balls and adding 92 for the fifth wicket with Stuart Binny to help take his team to 214.

Bengal will be hoping for Lance Klusener to fire; He averages 51.50 in the competition but his batting opportunities have been limited. He's only taken three wickets and will feel he is due for a big performance in the upcoming game.