DD hungry to set poor home record straight: Duminy

Although they have lost four of the five matches they have played so far in the Pepsi IPL 2015, the Mumbai Indians have come to Delhi on the back of a thumping win against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Rohit Sharma-led side would be keen to get another win under their belt when they take on the Delhi Daredevils on April 23. Speaking about MI’s performance in the previous match, bowling coach Shane Bond said, “To go forward and put together 210 (209) against RCB, I think was a measure of the composure within the group.

The belief that even though we haven’t had a good start, given what had happened last year and given the challenges we have in the squad, if we continue to play aggressively, we know we are going to pose problems hopefully as the tournament moves on. It is always nice to get the first win under the belt and we’re looking forward to the next couple of games before we get home for a few days. It’s important that we continue that momentum.

”Discussing the bowling unit’s run in the tournament he added, “I think we haven’t put a complete performance together yet. I think we have done things well in short periods of time. I thought in the last match we were as good as we have been in the first ten overs; we were exceptional and summed up the conditions well, though we were obviously put under pressure at the back end.

I think as a group we know we are still striving for the complete performance.” “We have talked about eliminating the easy boundaries and I think if we do that - with the quality of the bowling group we have - then we can make life simple. But I think we’ve still got some way to go,” he added.

Speaking about the team’s bowling contingent, the bowling coach said, “We have some very experienced bowlers like Vinay Kumar. Some of the guys in the group are in their first and second season. For me it’s about learning about these guys and where they are at and the areas that they need to improve on, which is an enjoyable task.

My point of view is to try and make the guys clear about what they are going to do on the field. They are bowling to some fine batsman and giving them the confidence to go out there and execute their skills is important. Particularly the younger guys in the group are going to have tough days; that is the nature of the format.

I certainly don’t want the guys to get scared, don’t want them to back off their battle, but keep their confidence to play this style of cricket.”“If we execute the plans well under pressure then we will do pretty well.” Runs from the opening pair and getting a good start has also been an area of concern for MI, who are yet to settle on an opening pair.

Speaking about it, Bond said, “I think Lendl (Simmons) played well last season and has continued to do again. It is a tough job batting at the top of the order; you are expected to generate a good run rate and not lose wickets and I think (it is the same for) all sides. You are looking to get off to a start of around 50 runs for perhaps one or two wickets.

” “What we have shown is that even though we have continually struggled through that (early) period, in the back half of the innings we have played incredibly well. I think that has given us confidence as a group. We believe in the players that we have at the top of the order and we know that if we get a solid start, then we can certainly score more runs as the innings progresses.

Regardless of the way we have started, which hasn’t been good, we have still consistently put scores on the board, after which if we would have bowled better we would have won the game. It’s testament to the work that the batsmen have done and if they continue to do that then we are going to win more games.” Speaking about the Delhi Daredevils and the challenges they pose, especially if they are able to take the field with Zaheer Khan, Bond said, “Zak (Zaheer Khan) is a great player.

Whenever young players take the field with great players it gives them a boost of confidence that you have a world class player in your line-up. So if he plays, then it’s going to be a big thing. I think DD has struggled at home for a long period of time.

“So, as a team we take confidence that we have had success and we back ourselves to play well here. It is a pretty even competition. The way DD have played so far, they should have won their first couple games and have since won couple of games.

We know we are going to have play well here if we are going to beat them. And their leg-spinners (Imran Tahir and Amit Mishra) pose a different type of challenge for us as well.”.

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