Cape Cobras allrounder Sybrand Engelbrecht admitted he had a hard time staying calm while bowling a Super Over against Barbados Tridents even as he aimed at getting the pace and length right. Engelbrecht, a late addition to the Cobras squad, played a key role in the side's Super Over win against Tridents that kept them alive in the Champions League.
Chasing 175, Cobras needed 32 off the last three overs and Englebrecht's 10-ball 19 helped the side tie the game. After Cobras made 11 for 0 batting first in the Super Over, Engelbrecht was entrusted with defending the target and his slow offbreaks ensured a win for the side.
"As much as I tried to be nice and calm in the middle, it was just not possible to be that way during the Super Over," Engelbrecht told clt20.com. "Maybe the Lasith Malingas of the world can be calm under those situations but I was definitely not calm since it was my first Super Over.
"I am not sure what the thought process was behind handing me the ball for the Super Over. I was just told that I will be bowling the Super Over and from there on I tried to make my plans. All the senior players were supportive and gave me a lot of advice when I was out to bowl the Super Over. They helped me out to be nice and calm which was great. When I walked out to bowl, I realised that it was very crucial to get the pace and the length right to defend that total in an over."
Engelbrecht was brought into the squad as a replacement for JP Duminy, who did not travel with the team for the Champions League due to a knee injury. Engelbrecht joined the squad after their first game against Northern Districts in Raipur. The allrounder was the side's most successful bowler in their loss to Hobart Hurricanes, taking 3 for 20, and he added to his tally with two wickets against Tridents. Engelbrecht said he had been working on his skills of bowling under pressure during training.
"I think it is important to try and put yourself under pressure when you train. That is something that I have definitely tried to learn over the last couple of months," he said. "The idea is not to just bowl, but bowl with a plan and bowl under pressure. I think that aspect of bowling has been really good to me so far and hopefully it continues in the games to follow."