The Chennai Super Kings will face Victorian Bushrangers in one of the top-billing clashes of the Champions League T20 this year. Chennai have won both their games, while Victoria has one win and one loss to their name.

Chennai’s form has been impeccable, but the opposition have been Central Stags and Wayamba – clearly the weakest of all the teams in the competition. This means that the game against the Victorians will be their first true test and it will not be as easy as the previous wins. For Victoria, the first match was a game to forget against Warriors (11/8 at Coral). But they have come back well to beat the Stags in a game that went down to the wire.

Chennai will be favourites (4/6 at Stan James) for this one, but will need to hold all their catches if they are to maintain that tag. Indian teams have found it difficult to field as well as their opposition and that is where the problems have crept up for them.

The batting is not a problem on the whole for the Super Kings, but the form of Matthew Hayden (4/1 at Boylesports) is a definite issue. He had got out to a first-ball duck against the Stags and hardly got a move on against the Wayamba side. Suresh Raina (4/1 at Stan James) was at his explosive best on a track that had nothing for the pace bowlers, but the question is whether he will be able to get his best game out against a good bowling attack.

MS Dhoni (13/2 at Coral) has been holding himself back in the tournament so far, probably due to health reasons. However, one cannot see him not bat in the top four if the Super Kings lose early wicket in this game.

The Bushrangers have Aaron Finch (4/1 at Coral) to thank for their lone win in the tournament. His unbeaten 90 against the Stags was a well-compiled and a matured innings, something that the likes of David Hussey (4/1 at BetFred) and Rob Quiney (9/2 at William Hill) could do well to learn. If Brad Hodge (7/2 at Boylesports) is fit, it will make things easier for the Bushrangers, as it was evident from the previous match that the lower-middle order like Andrew McDonald (8/1 at Blue Square) need their time to get on with the game.

Tips:
Favourites: Chennai Super Kings (4/6 at Stan James)
Top Chennai batsman: MS Dhoni (13/2 at Coral)
Top Victoria batsman: Brad Hodge (7/2 at Boylesports)