TNPL: Chepauk Super Gillies look to end death-bowling woes

CHENNAI: Chepauk Super Gillies skipper KH Gopinath is keen to lead by example after the defending champs lost their first two games in the third edition of TNPL. Gopinath wants to start afresh and turn things around when they take on IDream Karaikudi Kaalai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday.

“With Vijay Shankar not available, a lot is depending on me to give a good start. I did not score much runs in the first two matches. I am looking forward to contributing more with the bat against Karaikudi,’’ Gopinath told Express.

Coach Hemang Badani also believes that his team has to play to their potential. “We have to win tomorrow’s game. It is as simple as that. Our boys need to play as a unit, raise the bar and play to their fullest. We have not played good cricket yet. We need to pull up our socks and perform,’’ opined Badani.
Chepauk has been juggling their openers in the first two games. But the coach said that situation decides the batting line-up in this format.

“The wicket in Chepauk was good, conducive for batting. The one in Tirunelveli was a bit slow. The key is to adapt. The reason we sent Arun (role as a pinch hitter) to open in the first game was the fact that we were chasing 180. In the second match, we were chasing 150 odd runs so we decided to go with the regular pair of Gopi and Ganga.’

Gopinath insisted that the team has to work on death bowling, which has been one of the problems for them. “In the first game against Trichy, we leaked 45 runs in the last two overs. I am hoping that they deliver against Karaikudi,’’ said Gopinath.