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Botha credits partnership with Prince for victory
After his side's thrilling last-ball win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a Champions League T20 match on Friday, Warriors skipper Johan Botha said the aim was to get a good start in the first six overs.
Published: Sep 24, 2011, 10:12 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 24, 2011, 10:12 AM (IST)
Warriors captain Johan Botha felt the decent start given by the openers helped them to attack in the slog overs © Getty Images
Bangalore: Sep 23, 2011
After his side’s thrilling last-ball win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in a Champions League T20 match on Friday, Warriors skipper Johan Botha said the aim was to get a good start in the first six overs.
“We thought a good start in the first six overs would set it up for us and then the batsmen can play freely,” Botha said after his side’s three-wicket win.
Botha credited Ashwell Prince, who top-scored with a 55-ball 74.
“Batting with Prince kept me nice and calm and I went for my shots and it came off for me. Myself and Rusty (Theron) kept counting every over. I had to go for it,” Botha, who made a handy 42, said.
Reminded about his dismissal at a crucial juncture, he said, “I thought I blew it. I thought those three balls cost my team but Parnell struck it nicely.”
Rival skipper Daniel Vettori said they messed it up in the last few overs.
“We played pretty well though we were sloppy in the last five-six overs,” he said.
“They put us under a lot of pressure. We had our chances in the end but we weren’t good enough. The wicket was a bit tricky, the lengths were a little harder to it. We got six days before our next game and we need to tidy up the fielding and bowling,” the New Zealander added.
Man of the Match Prince felt his 73-run partnership with Botha was crucial
“Let me thank the Lord for giving me the strength. It was unbelievable. We lost momentum and when Johan came in, we got a partnership going. We needed some fortune to go our way, and scampering home at the end, it was dramatic stuff,” Prince said.
The left-hander said the big over of Chris Gayle gave them the momentum they needed in the end overs.
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“(Sreenath) Aravind and (Dirk) Nannes got those yorkers going, and we need a partnership in the middle. We told ourselves if we get one over of 15 or 20, and that over came off Chris Gayle. There’s still a long way to, with some tough opposition waiting for us.”(PTI)