Buoyant RCB seek to seal second place

Sunday, May 17, 2015
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)

Having sealed a playoff spot with a penultimate-ball six in a frenetic six-over run-chase, Royal Challengers Bangalore will finish their league campaign with a more low-key game against a Delhi Daredevils side who have little left to play for. A win will seal a second-place finish for Royal Challengers, and give them two shots at reaching the final, but their old friend, the weather, might stand in their way - it rained all evening in Bangalore on the eve of the match, and more rain is forecast for Sunday.

However long or short their match will be, Royal Challengers will begin as overwhelming favourites. Daredevils, though, will have a bit of confidence behind them, having beaten league leaders Chennai Super Kings convincingly in their last match.

Daredevils' bowlers - Zaheer Khan in particular - were excellent in that game, but the Chinnaswamy Stadium's true pitch and small outfield will present them a bigger challenge than Raipur's sluggish track and long boundaries. Not to mention Royal Challengers' top order. If Daredevils are to get anything out of this game, they will have to find a way to minimise the influence of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Royal Challengers Bangalore WLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Delhi Daredevils WLLLL

Dinesh Karthik's comedy run-out against Sunrisers Hyderabad seemed to encapsulate a season in which nothing has gone right for him. He's made 105 runs in nine innings at 11.66, and while those are terrible returns for someone signed for Rs. 10.5 crores at the player auction, he still has time to turn his season around.

Zaheer Khan sent down 19 dot balls in four overs - including a wicket-maiden to Brendon McCullum - while bowling exclusively in the Powerplay and at the death against Chennai Super Kings. He didn't feature in the first half of the season, but has made a strong impression after getting a chance - seven wickets in six matches at an average of 22.28, and an economy rate of 6.50. He would love to end the season with another impressive performance, particularly in a match against his old team.