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We want to win next two matches for semi-final spot: DD coach
Delhi Daredevils coach Greg Shipperd on Saturday said his side wants to avoid last minute scramble for a semi-final berth.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: April 10, 2010 03:58 PM IST
Read Time: 2 min
New Delhi:
"We want to win the next two matches and relax. We want to qualify for the semi-finals sooner than later. IPL is tough and we don't want to be in a crunch situation where every team will be scrambling for a semi-final spot," he said on the eve of Delhi Daredevils' IPL match against Kings XI Punjab here on Sunday.
"We need a couple of wins to make it to the semi-finals but we need not panic and we want to play a good game of cricket tomorrow. Against Kolkata Knight Riders in our last match we lost from a good position. It was disappointing. We want to win tomorrow in front of home crowd," he added.
Asked whether Ashish Nehra, who is recovering from a rib cage injury, will play tomorrow, Shipperd said the team management will have a serious thought tomorrow whether the left-arm pacer will be fielded or not.
"Nehra is very close to match fitness. He is very impressive at the nets but we will have a close look at him tomorrow. He is a very good bowler, we missed him," said the Australian.
Anil Kumble had termed the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch as not ideal for Twenty20 cricket but Shipperd said the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain must be reflecting on the low scores during the Champions League Twenty20 League last year.
"When you looked at the IPL 3 totals at this venue there were 180 plus scores many times. So, Kumble must be reflecting on the scores of Champions League Twenty20 League. Obviously, the pitch is worse for the team batting second," he said.
When asked about his opinion on some players having late night parties after IPL matches, the Daredevils coach said his side has no worry in this respect.
"It is up to the players and the team management how to make a balance. It is about having a balance between playing and a bit of fun. It would be a tough job to have this balance. But I don't have any problem at Daredevils," he said.
Delhi Daredevils coach Greg Shipperd on Saturday said his side wants to avoid last minute scramble for a semi-final berth and would look to make the grade by winning the next two matches of the Indian Premier League."We want to win the next two matches and relax. We want to qualify for the semi-finals sooner than later. IPL is tough and we don't want to be in a crunch situation where every team will be scrambling for a semi-final spot," he said on the eve of Delhi Daredevils' IPL match against Kings XI Punjab here on Sunday.
"We need a couple of wins to make it to the semi-finals but we need not panic and we want to play a good game of cricket tomorrow. Against Kolkata Knight Riders in our last match we lost from a good position. It was disappointing. We want to win tomorrow in front of home crowd," he added.
Asked whether Ashish Nehra, who is recovering from a rib cage injury, will play tomorrow, Shipperd said the team management will have a serious thought tomorrow whether the left-arm pacer will be fielded or not.
"Nehra is very close to match fitness. He is very impressive at the nets but we will have a close look at him tomorrow. He is a very good bowler, we missed him," said the Australian.
Anil Kumble had termed the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch as not ideal for Twenty20 cricket but Shipperd said the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain must be reflecting on the low scores during the Champions League Twenty20 League last year.
"When you looked at the IPL 3 totals at this venue there were 180 plus scores many times. So, Kumble must be reflecting on the scores of Champions League Twenty20 League. Obviously, the pitch is worse for the team batting second," he said.
When asked about his opinion on some players having late night parties after IPL matches, the Daredevils coach said his side has no worry in this respect.
"It is up to the players and the team management how to make a balance. It is about having a balance between playing and a bit of fun. It would be a tough job to have this balance. But I don't have any problem at Daredevils," he said.
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