The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘We are fully prepared’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 30, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

‘We are fully prepared’

Mumbai: “We had a stroke of luck,” said Delhi Daredevils skipper Virender Sehwag when talking about his team’s entry into the semifinals.

“We are fully prepared for the semifinals. We played some good cricket and needed some luck as well in the end to get through. We have beaten Royals once and lost once. We have planned a lot for Friday’s game. Now we need to execute the plans to be successful,” he said.

Sehwag believes his team can handle the pressure given the presence of experienced internationals in its ranks. “I have asked the team to treat it as just another match and not as a semifinal, because if you look at it as a semifinal, you tend to put more pressure on yourself.

“In Twenty20 cricket, a batsman or bowler can decide the outcome of the match. Both teams have a lot of match-winners and are evenly matched. It will be a pretty good game.

“We would like to win the toss and field first to give our bowlers a chance to exploit the conditions. Shot selection is important in every form of the game, and it is no different in Twenty20,” Sehwag added.

Dennis Lillee, advisor to Delhi Daredevils, said that it had been an interesting journey for him in the IPL. “Basically, we have been in three finals already to get into the semifinals. If that doesn’t prepare you for a semifinal, nothing else will.

Pat for Yomahesh

“To get through three must-win games steels the team. It will be a huge advantage for Viru and his guys. One thing about Twenty20 cricket is that as a fast bowler, you either get taken to the cleaners or learn to bowl tight very quickly.

Yomahesh has bowled very well. He has slotted in very well and backs himself. He has impressed me tremendously,” Lillee added.

When asked if there was a method that would work in favour of the bowlers, Lillee said: “The more you bowl in areas that are harder for the batsman to hit, the more effective you will be. Often, guys containing are as good as guys taking wickets, because if you bowl a few dot balls, it makes the batsman feel the need to do something different.” — Special Correspondent

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport