IPL-10: Delhi face Punjab in must-win tie

Mohali, April 29

Back from four consecutive losses, Delhi Daredevils are in a do-or-die situation when they take on struggling Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 tie at the IS Bindra Stadium here on Sunday.

With just two wins from seven games, Delhi are languishing at the bottom of the league table while Punjab have three wins from eight outings to be placed at sixth.

Both Punjab and Delhi come into this match having been comprehensively beaten in their previous games against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively.

The Zaheer Khan-led side, which boasts of a world-class pace battery comprising the likes of the skipper himself, along with Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, Chris Morris, Corey Anderson failed to contain the onslaught from the KKR duo of Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa on Friday.

Batting first, Delhi posted a modest total of 160/6, thanks to opener Sanju Samson’s 38-ball 60 and Shreyas Iyer’s 47 off 34 balls before KKR rode on fine half centuries from Gambhir and Uthappa to tame the visitors by seven wickets at the Eden Gardens.

Delhi’s middle order needs to step up to the occasion if they are to set a healthy total against a strong home batting line-up. A loss on Sunday will virtually bring the curtains down on Delhi’s campaign in IPL-10.

On the other hand, after going down to Hyderabad by 26 runs on Friday, Punjab will hope to have back their in-form opener Hashim Amla, who missed the game with a hamstring injury.

But the hosts can take a lot of heart from Shaun Marsh’s fighting spirit, who scored a valiant 84, studded with a range of shots. Punjab will also expect some runs from the willows of their captain Glenn Maxwell and Eoin Morgan to put up a formidable score.

If the batting looks sorted, Punjab need to re-strategise on their bowling department, which looked toothless against Hyderabad. Maxwell will be hoping for a better show from the pace trio of Ishant Sharma, Sandeep Sharma and Mohit Sharma besides his spin duo of Axar Patel and KC Cariappa against Delhi on Sunday. IANS