De Villiers inherent finishing instinct
Sports Reporter from Chattogram
Rangpur Riders recruit South African batsman AB de Villiers said the finishing instinct he has is like inherent because the matches he played throughout his cricket career mostly are in middle-order from where it is important to finish the games more than scoring more runs.
The fashion AB de Villiers was playing and made his stroke one after another with utmost aplomb that really mesmerized the full-house local spectators of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) in Chattogram.
The 34-year-old great batsman took no notice of the title-aspirants Dhaka Dynamites and blasted a match-winning hundred from 50 balls. He released pressure from Rangpur Riders despite losing two top-order batsmen, Chris Gayle and in-form Rilee Rossouw.
Together with Alex Hales, he did the great job and ensured an 80-run victory for the Riders before being left the field with smiling face along with his BPL teammate.
Its special for me to finish the game, said AB de Villiers.
I batted in the middle-order most of my career. If you look at the stats, the middle order players dont score a lot of hundreds. They finish the games and thats the way I have brought myself up to finish the games. Get a not out, De Villiers told.
This globe-trotting cricketer played 265 Twenty20 matches across the world where he had slammed three centuries before his BPL century that he made effortlessly what he flatly told media.
Honestly, I dont give one percent about centuries. It means nothing to me. I finished the game and it means a lot to me, said AB de Villiers, who played so far four matches in BPL, where he made scores of 34, 41, 1 and 100*.
I was there for the team and thats why, I play the game, De Villiers told.
Honestly I dont know if you are surprised but I dont care. Never have. I am sorry to disappoint you. Never cared for that, he added.
He said that he sought to finish the game having not out what he could have been done till the end of the match that made him elated.
I told Alex to get his hundred so that he can get two in a row but he said he also doesnt care about that, the experienced batsman, dubbed Mr. 360 degree for his stroke-making ability across all the angles of the field, said.
We just tried to play normal cricket till the end. I wanted to get a not out and not to have another batsman to come out and feel the pressure and thats why Im proud of it, he continued.
The ex-Proteas batsman wicketkeeper-batsman said that he maintained a balance between cricket and family after his marriage but he quitted international cricket to give more times to family.
He also said that he could not play more matches in BPL despite having his desires for his family but he desires to play at the knockout stage of the next BPL.
I would like to think so. I enjoy playing for this team. Theyre all good people. I feel very lucky to be playing for this team since they are all very nice human beings and thats always nice, he said.
-----One of the main reasons I stopped playing is because its too hectic. It was really important for me to find that balance to play cricket and be with my family.
Family is the most important thing in my life so thats how I plan my schedule. Once I did, people had to talk but I think I need to get back to those two boys and my wife. Thats ultimately why I stopped playing international cricket so that was the thinking behind it.
I think when I come back next year, we would plan a little bit better. Make sure we might have a bit of a longer stint here and maybe into the knockout stage as well, he added.
BK
