Want to seal semi-final berth at the earliest: Daredevils coach

By IANS,

New Delhi: Delhi Daredevils are just two wins away from a semi-final berth in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and coach Greg Shipperd says the team is in no mood to stretch matters till the last league match.


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The Delhi team, which plays table laggards Kings XI Punjab at the Ferozeshah Kotla Sunday, are in second place in the points tally with 12 points from 10 matches. They were on a three-match winning streak at home but crashed to a surprise defeat against a resolute Kolkata Knight Riders at the Edens Gardens in their previous outing.

“We want to qualify for the semifinals as soon as possible. We want to win the next two matches and relax. IPL is tough and we don’t want to be in a last minute situation where every team is looking to make the semi-finals,” Shipperd said here Saturday.

“There is, however, no need to panic. We want to play a good game in front of the home crowd. We lost from a good position against Kolkata Knight Riders and it was disappointing,” he added.

Asked about Anil Kumble of the Bangalore Royal challengers terming the Kotla wicket not ideal for Twenty20 cricket, Shipperd said: “If you look at the totals this year, it has been 180-plus scores. Kumble must be reflecting on the scores of Champions League Twenty20 League.

“It is obviously difficult to bat second on this pitch,” he added.

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