TNPL 2016: Knew batsmen couldn't hit my yorkers: Natarajan

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Fast bowler Natarajan who yorked the Dindigul Dragons to victory in the super over spoke exclusively to the India Cements Tamil Nadu Premier League website after his team pulled off a dramatic win against the Albert TUTI Patriots at the India Cements Limited Ground, Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli on Sunday. 

What was going on in your mind when you were bowling the super over?

I had the confidence that I could defend 10 runs because my strength is my yorker. Initially I was nervous; I thought we would not be able to get the score we were looking at. But when we got that score, I was confident of defending it. I knew the batsmen couldn't pick my yorkers, and so I bowled six of them in the super over and I succeeded as well!

Was it between you and M Ashwin?

No, it was decided that I would be bowling the super over right from the beginning.

What does this close victory mean to the team?

We were struggling in the initial over with Subramaniya Siva falling ill. But we hope to give it our best in the next match and make a comeback (to win comprehensively like the first two matches).

Any more boxes you need to click?

Our middle order is not yet balanced and that is the one box we would like to tick. There is no one yet to take the game forward. First three matches the openers played well and middle order wasn’t tested. So hopefully we comeback in the next game with better middle-order performances.

Turning point of the game...

Dropping Ashwin’s catch was the turning point of the game. If they had held on to it, then we didn’t have hitters later. So when they left the catch at a crucial time, it was a big plus for us.

Thoughts on the pitch...

It is a slow wicket and will assist the spinners because it is turning.