Batting second was easier: Parnell

Delhi Daredevils' South African seamer Wayne Parnell Wednesday said that batting second under the lights was much easier.

As Delhi Daredevils slumped to an eight-wicket loss to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Ferozeshah Kotla here, their third straight and sixth loss overall, Parnell said: "Batting second was easier due to the dew. It is difficult to defend here."

Delhi captain Kevin Pietersen, though, had won the toss and elected to bat. Asked for the reason behind the Daredevils' decision to bat first, Parnell said: "I don't know. You need to ask coach Gary (Kirsten)."

The Daredevils now have just two wins from right games and lie bottom of the standings. But Parnell chose to look on the bright side and said a win was just round the corner for the team, which was "very close" to dishing out a "perfect game".

"We are really very close to playing a perfect game. We need to improve by 4-5 percent. We are falling 10-15 runs short in every game," he said.

"The encouraging thing for us is that we lost most of our games in the final overs. But I firmly believe that we have squad which is capable of winning rest of the matches," he said.

Parnell chose not look too much into his misfiring captain, who has scored just 62 runs in five matches in IPL-7 so far.

"Kevin's energy is unbelievable. He hasn't scored too many runs but he's a class player," he said.