We are well poised to reach the play-offs: Bollinger

Man of the Match Doug Bollinger hailed Chennai Super Kings' comprehensive victory over Pune Warriors, saying the win has laid a good platform for the defending champions to reach the play-offs.

Bollinger was named Man of the match in their win over Pune on Wednesday

Mumbai: Apr 27, 2011

Man of the Match Doug Bollinger hailed Chennai Super Kings’ comprehensive victory over Pune Warriors, saying the win has laid a good platform for the defending champions to reach the play-offs.

“It’s a couple of good wins. We jut want to get consistency and get really good starts. We have nine games (actually only 7) which is a really good platform to get into top four and then top two,” said the Australian pacer who grabbed three for 21, including two wickets in successive balls, at the DY Patil stadium here today.

Bollinger praised Subramaniam Badrinath for grabbing the opportunity with a 44-ball unbeaten 63 ? his second half century in three innings. “Badri has been batting fantastically. He’s really grabbed his chances up the order. Am really happy with him, with the way he’s going about his game. He’s jut doing everything so simple and sticking to his strengths. He’s doing a great job. He got another sixty tonight and he’s been a very, very vital part of our team,” the bowler said.

Appreciating the wicket here, Bollinger said everyone would like to wrap it up and take it to their backyards. “This wicket was very good, turned a bit but it was very consistent. Chennai was friendlier towards spin bowling, a lot slower and lower. This wicket was fantastic and you would like such wickets in your backyard,” he said.

He also lavished praise on the contribution of the bowlers. “The bowlers have been bowling very well. Ashwin is bowling fantastically. Everyone is adapting to conditions.

They have been bowling with a lot of confidence which you need in a competition like this as even one game can change the scene,” he remarked.

Bollinger said Albie Morkel, who missed the game because of a strained bicep, will be back for the next match. “It’s just one game, he has strained his biceps. It was only a cautionary (move). He should be OK,” he said.

Bollinger felt that the Australians playing in the IPL would gain in confidence after their early departure in the World Cup. “We did not have a good World Cup, but we are still number one by a long way. After not doing well in the World Cup we have come here to try and get some form, get some runs and wickets before the Sri Lanka tour. This is kind of a platform to get some confidence under our game,” he said

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