Ravi Rampaul delivers during his spell of 4 for 37 - Brooks La Touche Photography and DigicelCricket.com.
Man of the Match, Ravi Rampaul, was clear in his post-match assessment as he asserted that his performance in the Second Digicel One Day International was the best he had bowled in recent memory.
“It was the best I have bowled for a long time. I was playing four day cricket and coming back to One Day, my rhythm and everything went well - today I bowled really well,” the soft spoken Trinidadian told the media at the post-match press conference.
While he said that he was mildly surprised that the Indian batsmen played as many loose shots as they did, he was more concerned about ensuring that he maintained an immaculate line and that he intelligently utilized the swing he managed to extract from the pitch.
“I was getting a little swing with the ball so I was just waiting for them to play the rash shots,” said the 24 year old who was brought back into the side in place of Montserratian fast bowler, Lionel Baker, who played in the First Digicel ODI on Friday.
Rampaul said he had noticed since the ICC World Twenty20 Championship that the Indians were averse to pitched delivery but contained himself to use it sparingly.
“They weren’t too comfortable with the short balls so I used it as a surprise delivery,” Rampaul explained.
While Rampaul went on the rampage early on – dismissing Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma for ducks in his first over – he said he is also capable of bowling miserly spells if the situation requires..
“I’m always an attacking bowler and I think the captain knows that I am an attacking bowler but I can bowl tight as well,” Rampaul said.
After his initial double strike, the seamer returned to add the scalps of Ravindra Jadeja and Praveen Kumar to his bag to finish with 4 for 37 from 10 overs as the Windies contained India to
188 all out in 48.2 overs and then romped to a comprehensive eight wicket victory.
Rampaul, a veteran of 34 ODIs, has put the selectors on notice that he is waiting on the opportunity to play Test cricket.
“I enjoy all types of cricket matches, I am just waiting for my opportunity to play Test cricket,” Rampaul said when asked about his desire to play the longest and most prestigious version of the game.
He said that he has been making steady progress in getting back into top shape and to this end has been working with former West Indies trainer, Ronald Rogers..
“I have been working hard; apart from cricket I have been doing a lot of physical work and I’m getting better. I still need to do a bit more work but I am getting there slowly,” Rampaul revealed.
Rampaul pocketed a Blackberry Storm compliments of Digicel for his Man of the Match performance.
