Scorchers fight for survival against Daredevils

Match facts

October 21, 2012
Start time 1330 (1130 GMT)

Perth Scorchers haven't won a game yet and now they need to win two in two. Their first challenge is to get past a star-studded Delhi Daredevils team - the only IPL team with some stakes left in the tournament. Daredevils are comfortably placed at this stage, second behind the Titans in the group. If Daredevils win, it will be the first win for an IPL team over a non-IPL team in the tournament.

Scorchers' batsmen will be tested against Morne Morkel and Co, especially as their openers - Herchelle Gibbs and Shaun Marsh - haven't looked fluent in the two outings. However, both batsmen are capable of teeing off and the extra pace from Daredevils' bowlers might suit them. Scorchers' bowling will have to stand up against a battery of hard-hitting batsmen - one of them being Kevin Pietersen, who made a fruitful round-trip to London this week that has earned him a berth on England's India tour. There are no outright fast bowlers in Scorchers' line up and Brad Hogg, whose wrong'un is always hard to pick, will have to take the lead.

What the teams need the most, though, is some scorching sun as wet weather has been robbing the teams of a chance to fight it out in the middle. Another washout could push Scorchers out of the tournament, like Kolkata Knight Riders. Daredevils' last match was abandoned due to rain too and although they are in a better position, they need some game time going forward. Unfortunately, some rain has been predicted in Cape Town tomorrow.

Nineteen-year old Unmukt Chand showed glimpses of his ability in the match against Knight Riders. After Daredevils had lost their top three within the first ten, Chand steadied the innings with a 27-ball 40. The shot of that innings was probably the slap over covers that went all the way for a six. On Sunday, eyes will be again on him to see if he can exhibit more of his ability.

Thirty seven-year old Simon Katich is not known as a T20 player but he has scored 1585 runs in the format and led New South Wales to a win in the inaugural Champions League. A doughty batsman, he showed in the rain-affected match against Knight Riders that he can accelerate an innings without taking too much risk. His job, though, would be to camp in the middle and allow other batsmen to play more attacking cricket around him.

"The enthusiasm of youth is important in this format and the guys making their way up the ranks have a big role to play. But you need some older guys, not only from the performance point of view but also tactically."
Simon Katich

"Yesterday in the nets he [Umesh Yadav] was coming in smoothly and was able to generate a lot of pace and he was swinging the ball away from the batsman, which is a very good sign, which he was not doing a couple of months back."
Delhi Daredevils' team mentor TA Sekar is happy with Umesh Yadav's progress