Chennai Super Kings opener Devon Conway has issued an ominous warning to his team’s opponents, saying that his team is aiming for a strike rate of over 200 on good batting surfaces to give them better chances of winning matches. Can Monday was a day as the four-time champions posted a mammoth 226 for 6 at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis (62 off 33 balls) and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell led the charge. Despite (76 off 36 balls), CSK still managed to win by eight runs.
Conway (83), Ajinkya Rahane and Shivam Dube played key roles with the bat, helping CSK post big scores at a strike rate of over 180.
Conway said at the post-match press conference, “It was a really good surface to bat on tonight (Monday), so trying to have a strike rate of around 200 plus to get big totals for us.” ”
The New Zealander said though he was some way away from a 200-plus strike rate, he was happy with Rahane (37 runs, 185 strike rate), Dube (52, 192.59), Ambati Rayudu (14, 233.33) and Moeen Ali (19). Was. not out, 211.11), had an excellent strike rate.
“I didn’t manage to get that (rate of over 200) but in the end some work done by other players like Ajinkya, Dube, Rayudu and Moeen Ali, they all added up to really good strike rates and that Which got us into a very competitive total.
Conway, who scored at a strike rate of 184.44, said, “On a wicket like this that’s probably the way it’s really good to bat.”
The 31-year-old left-hander was all praise for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for getting two skiers behind the stumps to get rid of two of the most dangerous batsmen, du Plessis and Maxwell.
The New Zealander said he was confident that someone like Dhoni would never flinch those skiers – one of the toughest catches to take in the night’s game.
“They (Faf and Maxwell) were very tough catches because in the dark night it is not easy to catch straight up balls. I was very lucky that MS (Dhoni) was wearing gloves because if there is someone you want To take those tough chances, he’s probably your man. It was good for us (to break the pace of the innings) and ultimately helped us win the match,” Conway said.
Conway hinted that the CSK players could have come under pressure while defending a big total, which might have resulted in them dropping a few catches.
“Nobody deliberately tries to drop catches, these things happen. I don’t know if there was pressure on the fielders or what it was. Thankfully, it didn’t cost us, but we have to practice under pressure.” Take those half chances. Thankfully, we bowled well and that helped repair those dropped catches.
“Before we went on the field, MS said that we are going to be under pressure at times. Their (RCB) pace was fantastic. Faf and Glenn kept us under pressure but we always felt that getting over 200 would be a big advantage on the board. But, if we get a few wickets, we can always come back.
“So, it was clear to our bowlers – be patient and when opportunities come you grab them with both hands.”
spyder camera an issue
Conway indicated that it was not easy for players to create problems due to the shadow of the hovering spider’s camera. He added that things should not come to a point where technology interferes with the game.
“It (interference) happened a number of times where the ball came very close to the spider cam as well as the wires, which can obviously put a fielder off. I think Faf stepped away a few times because the spider The shadow camera was in his way. It’s obviously a little test for the guys.
“It’s good to have that technology to show different angles of the game, but there comes a point where (it) can’t get too involved and interfere with the game. MS (Dhoni) might want to talk to the umpires. were trying to say ‘don’t get too close to the action and try to avoid too much (of what’s happening),” Conway said.
praise of Pathirana
Conway praised the efforts of young Sri Lankan bowler Mathisha Pathirana in winning the match for CSK.
Pathirana’s superb bowling in the 18th and 20th overs – he dismissed Shahbaz Ahmed (18th over) and conceded just 10 runs in the last over apart from taking the wicket of SS Prabhudesai – helped CSK halt RCB’s charge.
“Yeah, I think a special effort from Mathisha to come into the team and it was a first game for him in the IPL this year and to execute (his plan) under such pressure. It was fantastic.
“He’s very unorthodox and I haven’t personally faced a ball from him, haven’t faced him in the nets. It was very important for him to be with us tonight and execute his plans which ultimately got us the win.”