Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina said bowlers made the decisive difference in his team`s 10-run win over Deccan Chargers in their IPL match here.
|Last Updated: May 05, 2012, 12:06 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Chennai: Chennai Super Kings batsman Suresh Raina said bowlers made the decisive difference in his team`s 10-run win over Deccan Chargers in their IPL match here.
"It was Ben Hilfenhaus` first match and I thought he bowled brilliantly. So did Albie (Morkel) and Dwayne (Bravo). (Ravindra) Jadeja`s first two overs were brilliant. So a lot of credit of this win goes to our bowling," Raina said in the post-match press conference after his team successfully defended 160 runs last night.
Raina said the dismissal of Deccan captain Kumar Sangakkara by him also proved crucial in the final analysis.
"I was introduced because Dhoni thought it`s better that an off-spinner bowled to a left-hander and if I got a wicket in the first over, he said he would give me a second over.
"I was focusing on not giving easy room to him. It was a crucial wicket because he is a great batsman and he can take the game away from you if he stays till the end," he explained.
Raina said CSK are improving with every match but a lot remains to be achieved.
"We have the best fielding unit in the tournament but still there are areas we need to improve like with our direct throws. For a team, there is always some scope of improvement," he said.
On reaching the 2000-run milestone during the match with his 32-run knock in the match, Raina said, "It`s god grace and there will be lot more expectations. I`m lucky to have played with legends of the game such as Stephen Fleming, Matthew Hayden, Mike Hussey and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"I hope it will only improve and there`s a long way to go this season, as we have the IPL before the T20 World Cup and the ODI series in Sri Lanka."
On CSK`s struggle with the bat in the middle overs, Raina said it was important to learn from the mistakes.
"We need to bat really well in that period. Today, the plan was that the top three should go and get a good start, which we did. One of them could have been there till the 16th over.
"With wickets falling, it`s not easy for MSD to score at a fast pace. Ravindra Jadeja started off really well but he should do better," he said.
Talking about CSK`s upcoming matches, Raina said adaptability would be the key.
"We are playing away for a while and I think it will be good for us because we will be playing on different surfaces. Frankly, I didn`t understand the wickets here and the practice pitches were always different from the ones we played on but I can`t complain about it," he said.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.