Thursday, April 28, 2011

Delhi Dare Devils make another attempt to leave the bottom line.

Delhi Daredevils need some inspiration to lift themselves from the bottom of the table. They've even changed the nature of the insipid Feroz Shah Kotla pitch, transforming it from a low-and- slow surface to one with lots of live grass. The move brought them what could have been a morale- boosting win over Kings XI Punjab. The grass was, however, surprisingly trimmed for their next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, a move that did not impress Virender Sehwag. The Delhi top order did not enjoy the surface, Bangalore's did, and the visitors managed to scrape through in a tight chase. Delhi play three more games at the Kotla this season, and might as well make the most of home advantage by giving their captain the kind of wicket that he wants. After a five-day break, Kolkata Knight Riders return to the hit- and-travel IPL action for the first of five games in ten days. They couldn't chase a modest total and couldn't defend a substantial score in their previous two matches at home. In their defence, they ran in to Chris Gayle and had nowhere to hide. A game against struggling Delhi could not have come at a better time. Kolkata's powerful batting line-up should enjoy the bouncier Kotla track much more than the one at Eden Gardens. Delhi have the better pace attack though, and Kolkata would be wary after what Ishant Sharma did to Kochi Tuskers Kerala on another helpful surface in Kochi. Form guide (most recent first) Delhi : LWLWL (last in points table) Kolkata : LLWWW (fifth in points table) Team talk Kolkata could make some changes given the pacy nature of the Delhi track. Brett Lee should walk in after being left out in place of Brad Haddin against Bangalore. Whether Kolkata go in with two left-arm spinners, Shakib Al Hasan and Iqbal Abdulla, would be interesting to see. They also have overseas options in Ryan ten Doeschate and Australian fast bowler James Pattinson. Delhi rotated their fast bowlers in the previous two games on the revitalised Kotla track. Ajit Agarkar and Varun Aaron made way for Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda against Bangalore. What combination will they play tomorrow?

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