MATCH REPORT
LSG, who are actually in prime 4 within the factors tally, cruised to a seven-wicket win towards the 2016 champions.
Pooran hit 4 sixes — three of them coming in a single over from Abhishek Sharma — and three fours throughout his innings.
“We spoke about adapting, we knew we could target that one over from spin, it was right up to my match-up and thankfully it came off well (on the 31-run over from Abhishek), I did enjoy my batting. It’s important to target that 6th bowler, it’s a batter’s game, no risk, no reward, you have to work on the match-ups,” stated Pooran after the match.
Pooran knew that SRH pacers would use yorker and its slower variation on the demise and he was up for it.
“I’ve played enough international cricket to know how to deal with situations, I expected the bowlers to bowl yorkers and slower balls and was ready for it. Even in T20I cricket, I’d like to bat longer,” Pooran added.
LSG skipper Krunal Pandya felt that his bowlers did an excellent job in proscribing the SRH to beneath 200 after the beginning they obtained in Powerplay.
“With the way they were going, I thought 200, but we pulled it back nicely towards the end especially by Yash and Avesh. At this level anything is possible, we had the belief and with players like Stoinis and Pooran, we had to believe. Abhishek’s over changed the momentum,” Krunal stated.
The skipper was all reward for Prerak Mankad, who anchored the chase with an unbeaten 64 off 45 balls.
“He’s (Prerak Mankad) coming in for his first season and to come out and bat like that shows a lot of character, really happy for him to coming out here and score those runs. Even he will believe he belongs here.”
Player of the match Mankad stated that originally he wasn’t in a position to join towards the spinners however grew in confidence because the match progressed.
“I was trying to hit the spinners and couldn’t connect. I knew Mayank (Markande) would try to get me out and I have played against him in domestic cricket, so took my chance. Thanks to the management for giving me this opportunity.”
Normally, a middle-order batter, No. 3 is not a well-known place for Mankad.
“I haven’t batted a lot at No. 3 but have batted in the top four. I back my ability and strength, it worked out in the end. Whatever happens at the other end should not effect me, and because of Stoinis and Pooran we won this game.”
(With inputs from PTI)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com