JOIN US“We want to finish as high as possible in the points table because there is certainly some advantage if you finish first or second,” noted the Kiwi after the Challengers’ thumping nine-wicket win over Kochi Tuskers Kerala on Sunday.
“We know we have to play well in the remaining four games to try and get there. I think one win is irrelevant now, we have to try and finish as high as possible.”
Having done nothing much in the tournament, Tillakaratne Dilshan redeemed himself with an unbeaten half-century playing in his last match of IPL IV. “It’s difficult,” Vettori admitted when asked about replacing the Lankan, who will leave for England for a bilateral series.
“That partnership (Gayle and Dilshan) which we put together certainly enabled us to win these last five games.
“When you look at the foreign players, there is Luke Pomersbach and Rilee Rossouw or look at a guy like Tiwary to come up the order. He hasn’t had much batting so it might be a good opportunity for him to get some balls under his belt. We have got a couple of options and we got to make a decision pretty quickly,” he elaborated.
“Absolutely nothing,” said Vettori when asked if he gives any suggestions when Chris Gayle goes out to bat. “It’s all him out there. I sit back and just enjoy. I know it’s more enjoyable because he is on my side but I think that’s why people love T20 cricket.
“What he did tonight, 37 runs off one over, I am sure it’s been never done before. It’s amazing,” he marvelled.
The left-arm spinner had a word of praise for left-arm seamer S Arvind, who had returns of two for 20. “Arvind has been bowling amazingly in the last two or three games, so he is just continuing on his good form.
“The wicket certainly helped us but we were able to take control of those conditions. I think taking wickets in this format has such a bearing on the run-rate,” the New Zealander reasoned.