Down in the dumps, PWI and DD search for a bright spot

BATTING WOES

RAIPUR: Both Pune Warriors India and hosts Delhi Daredevils are sailing in the same boat. The Daredevils languish at the bottom of the table with seven defeats in eight games while the Warriors have lost six games so far to lie eighth.

With their play-off hopes fast receding, the teams can only look forward to winning the first- ever big match at the Saheed Veer Narain Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. This is the second home ground for Delhi, who fared poorly at the Ferozeshah Kotla but will have a huge crowd rooting for them.

" It's really surprising that we are unable to click as a team. We have had many close matches," said Delhi left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem. "We need to put things together as we still have eight matches to play. What we need right now is a fresh start. In fact, we are desperate to change the course of our poor run in this year's league."

Both sides are yet to sort out their batting, and Delhi top order batsmen in particular have not found consistency. "We have been a good side and hope to do well against Pune as their morale is down after the Gayle Storm," said Nadeem.

He, however, admitted the side was missing the services of Kevin Pietersen and Jesse Ryder.

"Our batting is a great concern, and we are missing the two stars," he said. Key batsmen Virender Sehwag, David Warners and skipper Mahela Jayawardene need to fire in unison for Delhi.

For Warriors, Mitchell Marsh, isn't planning anything different from Daredevils.

" Now, we have been doing well in batting, but our bowlers are being hammered," said Marsh, referring to Gayle's hurricane 175 not out against his hapless side.

"Sometimes I feel that we lack the right combination," he said. "Our target is to win the remaining eight matches to make it to the play- offs as we are a good side and have the ability to stage a comeback in the game," he added.