The eighth game of the Champions League T20 will see the Victorian Bushrangers take on the Central Districts at the Centurion. Both the sides had lost their first game in the competition, and will understand that another loss here could end their chances in the tournament.

Victoria had come into the tournament as favourites to win it, but the first game loss would have pegged them back. They need to now beat Central Districts (4/11 at Coral) and win both their other games to qualify for the semi-finals. The Central Districts (5/2 at bet365), on the other hand, were outplayed by the Super Kings, and will need to improve their game by leaps and bounds in order to make a match out of it against the strong Victorian side.

The previous game loss for Victoria was more to do with one opposition batsman taking their bowlers on and getting away. Apart from that, the Victorian batting was slightly off the mark, and could do with their openers, Brad Hodge (7/2 at Ladbrokes) and Rob Quiney (4/1 at BetFred) give them a good start. One has often seen in this tournament that despite a slow start, keeping wickets in hand has always been the key. Young Aaron Finch (9/2 at 888Sport), whose career has seen only seven first class games so far, did get a start against the Warriors, but it is the conversion into something big, that could help the side.

Even the captain, David Hussey (7/2 at Blue Square) will appreciate a better start, which will allow him the chance to play his strokes down the order. Usually, Hussey is an excellent T20 batsman, but his best bet is to come in and bat in the middle-overs, build the innings and then prepare for the final assault in the end.

The Central Districts side looked to have not recovered from the loss of Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor. None of the batsmen took any responsibility in the previous game and the side collapsed like a pack of cards. In a top-heavy line-up like their, the Central Districts need their top three – Jaime How (4/1 at bet365), Matthew Sinclair (5/1 at Blue Square) and Peter Ingram (4/1 at Coral) to get their team off to a good start and then hope for some hitting at the end.

Brendon Diamanti (12/1 at Paddy Power) is a good prospect to carry out that role that Oram used to play, but he needs the buffer of some runs behind his back and the momentum to go with it when he comes to bat.

Tips:
Favourites: Victoria (4/11 at Coral)
Top Victorian Bushrangers batsman: David Hussey (7/2 at Blue Square)
Top Central Districts batsman: Matthew Sinclair (5/1 at Blue Square)