Ryan McLaren says attacking mindset key to Powerplay success

McLaren says that taking wickets during Powerplay overs changes the momentum of the match.

Johannesburg: Jul 10, 2014

South African all-rounder Ryan McLaren has explained his attacking mindset that has been the catalyst behind his success during the crucial Powerplay overs in One-Day International (ODI) cricket. McLaren, who bowled a match-changing second over during the batting Power Play in the opening ODI against Sri Lanka, said that they know that during the Power Play phases the guys are going to come at them.

According to Sport24, McLaren, who has taken 10 of his 46 wickets since 2013 during the Powerplay, said that from playing ODI in the past one gets used to being pummeled a bit but one has to accept the fact and stay mentally in the challenge and the fight.

The all-rounder explained that if one takes wickets in the Powerplay it changes the momentum of the match, adding that one cannot do that with a negative mind-set of just trying to block runs as the player has nowhere to hide with only three fielders out.

McLaren was reportedly the leading wicket-taker for South Africa in ODI cricket last season, but has also been invaluable with the bat, as he showed during his unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 55 with David Miller. McLaren said that it is the first game of cricket that he has played in four months so he is quite happy with how it went, adding that it makes his role easier when one has Miller on the other side hitting the ball out of the park.