Free-spirited like many cricketers from the Caribbean, Darren Sammy displayed his mental strength to score a courageous half-century against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.
Despite losing the match by eight wickets, the Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder lauded his team’s “fighting spirit.”
“We weren’t outplayed. We were always in the running and once again showed our never-say-die attitude. It was a 160-run wicket. We lost four batsmen in the first four overs and it was difficult from there onwards,” said the West Indies skipper.
Sammy added that Shane Watson was the difference between the two sides and the team erred in length while bowling to him on Saturday.
The West Indian also had a piece of advice for his team’s batsmen.
“The batsmen should take a few more balls to settle down and try and build up a big score,” asserted the 29-year-old.
When questioned on the significance of the pacifier hanging around his neck, Sammy smiled and said, “I have had a baby girl recently. It is for inspiration and it helps.”
Rajasthan Royals’ James Faulkner is taking baby steps of his own in the Pepsi IPL and after becoming the first bowler to take a five-for this season, the Australian expressed satisfaction with his team’s progress.
“To be brutally honest, they shouldn’t have got 145. I thought Sammy batted well and they got a bit away from us. In the end, we were good enough to chase the runs down, which I knew we’d do from the start,” claimed Faulkner.
The 22-year-old also praised his team’s bowlers for using the new ball well on a track which assists seam bowling.
“I think our death bowling has been pretty good too,” added Faulkner.
