IPL 2014: Delhi Daredevils vs. Kolkata Knight Riders - Face-off between struggling teams
New Delhi, May 6 (IANS): Both Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders would be looking to end their run of losses in their face-off in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Wednesday.
After beating the Knight Riders in their second match, Daredevils’ only other win came against the bottom placed Mumbai Indians.
The Knight Riders haven’t fared much better either – losing 5 of their 7 matches so far – and are above Daredevils in the standings only due to a better run-rate.
While the Daredevils have been at the receiving end of some bad losses, the Knight Riders have been in winning positions more than once but have thrown their chances away with some dismal batting.
In both the matches against Rajasthan Royals, Knight Riders were strolling to an easy win before losing their plot. They lost the first match in Abu Dhabi in a Super Over. And, on Monday, they blew their chance after being 121 for no loss only to become the 1st team in IPL history to lose after a century-run stand while chasing.
Daredevils skipper Kevin Pietersen is aware that Knight Riders could bounce back.
“The KKR game will not be an easy one at all. Just because someone is on a losing streak does not mean we can sink someone at any time. We are proud of how we have played so far. Some moments have not gone our way, but we can guarantee we will continue playing the kind of cricket we played Monday night,” said Pietersen here on Tuesday.
Pietersen said that the team has moved on from the loss against Chennai Super Kings.
J.P. Duminy (28) and Kedar Jadhav’s (27) brilliant unbeaten 58-run stand off 34 balls helped Delhi reach 178 for five in 20 overs. But a Dwayne Smith (79) blitzkrieg coupled with Suresh Raina’s 47 off 27 balls took Chennai Super Kings to 181 for two in 19.4 overs, their 6th straight win on the trot.
“We are incredibly proud the way Duminy and Jadhav batted against Chennai. There is no use pointing the finger at anyone. We have got to stand by and support each other and grow as a team.”
“Chennai is a fantastic cricket team with brilliant players and we can be proud of taking them so close. If we play cricket like that for the next two weeks, we are going to win more than we lose. With a little bit of luck going our way, we will be there,” Pietersen added.
Both teams are down on confidence — Delhi are on a 2-match losing streak as against Kolkata who haven’t won in their last 4 outings — but the former will at least take heart from their 4-wicket win over the Knight Riders in their previous meet.