Delhi Daredevils will face Highveld Lions in the first semifinals of the ongoing Champions League Twenty20 in Durban. Before the tournament started people expected more IPL teams to be in the semifinals but Delhi are the only team representing the cash-rich IPL. Amazingly, both the South African teams, Titans and Lions have qualified and that shows how much role conditions play in T20 matches.
The semifinal between Delhi and Lions should be a close contest. Delhi Daredevils looks a far better side on papers but no one can under estimate Lions who have already beaten two IPL giants in the form of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.
There should be some keen battles when the two teams will take on each other and that should define the course of the game. Let’s have a look at some of them:
Virender Sehwag vs Sohail Tanvir and Dirk Nannes: There is no doubt that Sehwag is going through a rough patch but he still made a match winning fifty in the match against Perth Scorchers. Against Lions Sehwag will have to be watchful against the two left-arm seamers in Tanvir and Nannes. Both these bowlers have been a bit inconsistent in the tournament and will know that they will have to bowl well to stop Sehwag. Both bowlers will be looking to bring the bowl back into Sehwag because that can trouble him seriously.
Aaron Phangiso vs Kevin Pietersen and Ross Taylor: Phangiso has been the best spinner in the tournament and it has been wonderful watching him bowl. He bowled brilliant against Mumbai Indians and CSK and dominated even Sachin Tendulkar. He will have his work cut-out in this match against Pietersen and Taylor. Both these batsmen are dominating in nature and likes to take the attack to the opposition. Pietersen does struggle against left-arm spinners and that should make the battle more interesting.
Morne Morkel vs Alviro Petersen: These two South Africans will play a big role in this match. Both Morkel and Petersen play for South African Test squad and would know all about each other. Morkel is very important to Delhi as he has the ability to take early wickets but in this match he will be bowling to a player who would have played him at least thousand times in the nets.
Neil McKenzie vs Umesh Yadav and Ajit Agarkar: McKenzie has been very impressive in this tournament and he holds the innings together for the Lions. He plays well against spinners in the middle overs but in this match he will face Yadav and Agarkar who can be quick. McKenzie has done well against spinners and it will be interesting to see how he plays against these Indian seamers.
By Indian Sports News Network