RCB,Delhi Daredevils T0 Slug It Out In First All-lndia affair Of The Meet



Bangalore: The Champions League T20 will get an all-Indian treat for the
first time when hosts RCB take on Delhi Daredevils at the M Chinnaswamy
Stadium here on Saturday. The contest in all probability will be a cracker, adding more fervour to the Deepavalli celebrations, considering the big names involved in the second round encounter

After the morale-sapping loss to Victoria Bushrangers on Thursday, each match in their group will be crucial for RCB including those not featuring them. For the record, the Victoria-cape Cobras encounter on the
a same day preceding the all-IPL sides tie, will sea1 RCB’s fate in the 12-team tourney if the Cobras get it past the Aussie team.

RCB skipper Anil Kumble realizes that the things are not all in their
hands going into their last League Stage match. “We now need to win
against Delhi with a huge margin. It is tough in this format - we lose the first game of the tournament, then we qualify for the next round but the other team takes points. It is tough but that is how the format is. You only play two games and it is not easy when the other teams come in with points. It is a must-win against Delhi,” said Kumble after the loss against Victoria. But that task will be easier said
than done against a team boasting the likes of explosive Team India batting pair Of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, the in-form SriLankan Tilllakaratne Ditshan, the ever surprising Dinesh Karthik, et al.

In their final group encounter the Daredevils. finally gave the breaks to
one Glenn McGrath (yes, the legendary McGrath!) and the lanky pacer
quietly did the job he is so passionate about - troubling the rival batsmen. The DD coach David Saker even mentioned that the slow nature of thy wicket here might suit the
Aussie’s art perfectly.

With speedster Dirk Nannes complementing McGrath with pace, quite hot stuff at that, it would be a tough challenge for the RCB batsmen but how Team India spinner Amit Mishra pans out on a helpful track too remains crucial fir Delhi. On the other hands, RCB will be stronger with the return of abounded Jacques Kallis, who according to team sources is fit to play after pissing the last match with a side strain. His services were dearly missed during the defeated Victoria. Anyhow the team combination will depend a lot on the Victoria-Cobras tie and a victory for Cobras might see the reserves in action for RCB.

Bangalore: Just like India rooted i for Pakistan in their Champions Trophy encounter in South Africa recently Bangaloreans can be expected to lend their considerable support to an Australian team, the victorian Bushrangers, here on Saturday.

For only a victory for the Bushrangers can keep their opponents down to two points and keep RCB alive in the Champions League T20 - at least until the hosts' match against Delhi Daredevils, which follow the late afternoon tie between the Cobras and the Bushrangers.

The Bushrangers, fresh from their League Stage win over RCB on ''Thursday had an optional net session at the Chinnaswamy Stadium On Friday but opener Rob Quiney stated in very clear terms that it wasn't an indication of taking things lightly.

“We will not take the game lightly that's for sure,” he said as some of his mates had batting practice at the nets before getting in some catching drills.

With their bowling having more than held its own as also the tor-order during what could have been a tricky chase against RCB, the lack of exposure for the middle and late order could be a worry but its something Quiney chose to brush aside, saying: “They have all been practicing hard and if they get out there, they can do the required job.”

As for the Cobras what they require is some runs from Herschelle Gibbs.His humour is intact during an informal chat with the media but should he get amongst the runs, more so in the company of skipper Andrew Puttick, the man 5 who scored the CL T20s first century the Bushrangers could find themselves with too much to do. Which is not what the local crowd would want 2 on their Diwali holiday.