Dolphins and Lions seek first win

Saturday, September 27, 2014
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)

Thursday's downpour in Bangalore has opened up the race for the second knock-out spot in Group A. While Lahore Lions got their first points in the group stage, Chennai Super Kings were denied a chance to get closer to that semi-final spot and now have just one league game to ensure they do so. Kolkata Knight Riders have already qualified for the semi-finals and the contest for the second team from the group is open to everyone.

Lions have another two games left in the league stage, the first of which will be played against Dolphins on Saturday afternoon in Bangalore. The points table, as it stands now, leaves Lions with one clear target - win both remaining games by big margins and move to 10 points. If Super Kings win against Scorchers and Lions with both their games, the decider between the two teams will come down to net run-rate. However, if Scorchers defeat Super Kings, and Lions can beat Dolphins and Scorchers, they could go through with Knight Riders.

Their opponents on Saturday, Dolphins, are also not completely out of the race despite two losses in as many games. They, too, need to win both their remaining games by big margins - including one match against table-toppers Knight Riders - and hope for other results to go their way.

The stakes demand better performances from Dolphins and Lions. In their previous games, Dolphins have shown the ability to keep charging at the opposition bowlers despite wickets but they also need to temper the aggression with steady partnerships. The Bangalore track is unlikely to get easier for bowlers, making it imperative for Lions to field and bowl better than they did in their last game against Knight Riders.

Dolphins LLWWL (most recent first, completed matches only)
Lahore Lions LWLWW

Cameron Delport's action-packed innings against Chennai Super Kings would have made a few IPL franchises take note before the next season. The opener is an aggressive batsman in T20s but with a possible knock-out spot at stake, he needs to provide more than just a stroke-filled cameo.

Aizaz Cheema is among the leading wicket-takers of the tournament and had enjoyed a consistent run during the qualifiers when he came close to taking a hat-trick in three successive games. With the pitch likely to favour the batsmen, Cheema will be an important bowler for Lions, especially against Dolphins' attacking top order.

"On such wickets, a score of 220 is equivalent to a 190 we face at home. If we bat first, it is crucial for us to change our mindset that we would be happy with 180."
Dolphins captain Morne van Wyk wants his batsmen to target bigger scores on batting-friendly pitches