Today’s Match: Delhi Daredevils vs Pune Warriors (DD vs PW)
Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors will be eager to avoid a last-finish in IPL IV when they face each other in their last match at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Saturday hoping for the nightmare called IPL 4 to end.
Both sides are levelled at eight points at the bottom of the table and would like to end the season with a win.
Daredevils and Pune Warriors had similar set of problems. While a new look Daredevils failed to get their winning combination, new entrants Pune Warriors lacked leadership and even the late entry of Sourav Ganguly failed to do any wonder.
The biggest disappointment for Daredevils has to be Irfan Pathan, who was bought for a $1.9 million in the January auction. The Baroda
all-rounder has scored just 150 runs with the bat and only has 11 wickets from 13 matches this season.
Much like Delhi, the Warriors’ Achilles heel has been the batting. Coach Geoff Marsh agreed that failure to put runs on the board was the reason behind the side’s ninth defeat on Thursday night.
“The batting was disappointing. We lost early wickets, have been losing 4-5 wickets in a hurry,” said the Australian.
Meanwhile in Dharmashal, Adam Gilchrist-led Kings XI will have their last chance against Deccan Chargers to make the play-offs berth.
Kings XI is looking for its fifth straight victory to keep alive its mathematical chances of making the play-offs. The venue is also apt as
it was here last year that Gilchrist led Chargers to its fifth successive win for a place in the semifinals.
It is this background that brings an added dimension to Saturday’s clash. If an out-of-reckoning Chargers are here with two successive
victories for the first time this season, Kings XI has won its last four, including two here this week.
Gilchrist is quite clear about his priorities and what needs to be done first. ?Winning is our first priority. The net run-rate will have any meaning for us only if we win.?
Chargers, under Cameron White, is looking to finish on a high note despite being knocked out of the race for a place in the play-offs.
?Our franchise would love to see us finish with three wins,? pointed out White.
