Bowling at the death rehearsals paying off

CHENNAI, India, CMC West Indies allrounder Dwayne Bravo says death bowling rehearsals with some of the world’s leading batsmen have boosted his ability to perform at this stage of T20 cricket.

Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo

The Trinidad and Tobago cricketer made his disclosure after leading Chennai Super Kings to a thrilling two run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.

Bravo picked up three wickets for 22 runs including two in one over to deprive Kolkata Knight Riders of completing an easy run chase.

”I prepare myself to defend 14 off the last over and if anything is over 14, it is a bonus. This is the kind of situations I practise, bowling to (Brendon) McCullum and (Kieron) Pollard back home,” said Bravo.

“When I prepare myself I bowl at one of the best in the world in this business which is MS and I challenge myself at him and more often than not I execute”.

Bravo’s heroics restricted KKK to 132 for nine in 20 overs after aggressive bowling from fellow West Indian Andre Russell helped to keep CSK to a paltry 134.

Bravo, who was awarded man-of –the match, bowled the final over with KKK needing 17 runs for victory.

“Yeah three balls 17 runs, they needed to hit three sixes I don’t think that is possible and I back myself fairly well in those situations,” he said.

“When it comes to game time I already know I did the work in the nets so it’s just a matter of executing in the game so three balls to go to get three sixes, I just know I need to nail one Yorker or even if the ball goes for a boundary then not possible to win the game”.

Super Kings are at the top of the IPL table with a game in hand having now won nine home matches in a row.