CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo praised T&T bowlers for pulling off a thrilling win © AFP
By CricketCountry Staff
Chennai: Oct 3, 2011
Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, whose rapid innings of 32 not out off 22 balls went in vain against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday, has predicted few more low-scoring matches at the newly-laid pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
“The wicket has changed. On the new track the ball is not coming on to the bat and that’s why we’ve seen so many low scoring games. It’s going to get worse, which means in the semi-final and the final we might see teams scoring 100-120 and defending the total with ease,” Bravo told reporters after their CLT20 match against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday night, which CSK lost by 12 runs.
Bravo, who also plays for T&T, said the Caribbean side is good in defending small totals. “The target wasn’t stiff but chasing on a deteriorating pitch will always be difficult, especially if you don’t get a start in the first six overs. We kept losing wickets and T&T are very good in defending small totals. I knew it was going to be difficult but we gave it our best shot and we’ll try and win the one game that’s left.”
“We have to give due credit to the T&T bowlers, who bowled really well in the first six overs. Darren [Ganga] rotated his bowlers really well. Normally, [Ravi] Rampaul and [Samuel] Badree bowl three overs each in the beginning but today Sunil Narine bowled a splendid spell. He was the big difference. His unusual action makes it very difficult for our batsmen to pick him as they haven’t seen much of him. By bowling well in the first six, they had us under pressure and we kept losing wickets right through. Once they have the opposition under pressure, T&T know how to press home the advantage, and that’s what they did,” he added.
Talking about the newly-laid Chennai pitch, the all-rounder said, “There are two games played here on a day and the groundsmen have very limited time to prepare the wicket. The new soil makes it very difficult to bat attackingly and most of the CSK batsmen are stroke-players. Having said that, it’s a game and we have lost twice. We’ll try and finish it off on a good note.”
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai is known as the fortress of the Super Kings, who were undefeated for eight games at a stretch before they lost to Mumbai Indians earlier.
“This is an unusual feeling for us. In sports there will be times when you won’t be as consistent as you once were. We have one more game left and the group is still open. We have to keep our heads up and have faith that we can do well and qualify for the semis. Once we qualify, it will be a different ballgame. We just need to learn from our mistakes and be positive,” he said.