Ganga defends decision to use Rampaul

September 29, 2011 12:15 am | Updated August 04, 2016 01:48 am IST - Chennai:

Simon Katich

Simon Katich

Trinidad & Tobago skipper Darren Ganga defended his decision to go with Ravi Rampaul for the Super Over, despite the paceman having just gone for 16 runs in the final over of the innings. Ganga said he had banked on the experience of Rampaul and that the around-the-wicket tactic the bowler adopted was something that worked well during practice.

“Rampaul is our most experienced bowler, if you look at the entire tournament, his form, his statistics. He has done the job for us in the past and with more than 15 runs to defended in one over, he is going to pull it off on most days, but you also have to give credit to Henriques for the way he batted. "We have tried it time and again during practice, angling it across from around the wicket and more often than not it worked. Maybe he was tired, having to bowl back to back overs after having bowled two overs at the death,” said Ganga, speaking to the media after his side's second close defeat in as many matches.

Ganga also said the original plan was to send out a left-right batting pair for the Super Over, but he wasn't aware that the batsmen had to go out in the same order as on the list the captains provide. “We were under the impression that you could ask any two of the three to open and the rules aren't explicit and its a learning for us,” he said.

New South Wales' captain Simon Katich had opted for the slow-left arm of Steve O'Keefe to bowl the Super Over, and said the nature of the wicket, which was sluggish, prompted the call.

“We felt pace off the ball was the best option, it happened at the back of our innings as well. O'Keefe had a good outing with the ball as well,” said Katich.

All planned out

Man-of-the-Match Moises Henriques who was instrumental in breaking NSW Blues out of jail at the death said he had things planned out in his head all through the final over, including the instance when he let no. 10 Pat Cummins take strike with eight runs needed of three balls.

“He (Cummins) was fresh to the crease and at that stage we needed eight of three and every run was crucial. I thought about it before the ball was bowled and thought if we took the two I could still be on strike for the last ball if a four or a six was required. As it turned out I was not needed at all.”

While Katich said the win would kick start the campaign of the Blues, Ganga warned the other teams that his side would not go down quietly.

“Luck has gone against us, and it's a pity we haven't crossed the line. We have two games left and one game against the home team and we will come hard,” said Gangat.

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