West Indies international Rovman Powell reflected on his approach and mindset to batting after smashing a match-winning 61* off 28 in the second T20I against Bangladesh on July 3.
With his incredible ball-striking abilities, aided by a lot of muscle-power, Rovman Powell has been looked at by many as a worthy successor to Kieron Pollard. The right-hander was at his destructive best in the second T20I against Bangladesh in Dominica on Sunday, smashing an unbeaten 28-ball 61 to guide his team to 193/5 after opting to bat.
That was enough for the hosts to secure a 35-run win, and with it, take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. As for Powell, the secret to his success lies in looking at himself as a responsible batter possessing power, rather than merely a power-hitter, and trying to continue the learning process.
“In anything you do, especially in professional sport, growth is a very important part and you have to grow from skill perspective to mental perspective and in each part I think I am growing and hopefully continue to learn.”
“To be honest I stopped looking at myself as a big hitter. I start looking at myself as a batsman with power and with that comes control… know when to look for a single and know when to attack I think that has served me well so far,”
he said after the match, as per ESPNcricinfo.
West Indies had lost opener Kyle Mayers and Shamarh Brooks within the first four overs before Brandon King (57 off 43) and skipper Nicholas Pooran (34 off 30) added 74 in 9.1 overs for the third wicket. Powell walked in at the fall of the latter’s wicket, and his blistering show, which included two fours and sixes, helped WI take 93 off the last 7.3 overs.
“The platform was already set by the captain and Brandon and I think they played well before I got to the crease so it was just an opportunity for me to advance the score and bat all overs and I think I did that today.”
“I think it’s a pretty good wicket. It’s a very good wicket, especially for batting and you just see five or so balls and get yourself in and then the ball just comes on to the bat and you express yourself as a batsman,”
Powell said.
The player was one of Delhi Capitals’ much sought-after finishers in his maiden Indian Premier League stint earlier this year and aggregated 250 runs while stringing at a high 149.70. His highest of an unbeaten 35-ball 67 came against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, while his 36 off 15 and 33* off 16 against the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders were as memorable.
On Sunday, Powell was watchful for the first nine balls, which yielded just seven runs, before he smashed three sixes and a four off Shakib Al Hasan to get himself going. He emphasised on the importance of picking the right moments in a T20 innings.
“I think picking up match-ups and picking up bowlers to go after is very important and you know today I recognize Shakib wasn’t having the best of the day and then I decide to go after him and then I have five overs obviously at the back end.”
“Yeah definitely (getting the big over against Shakib) changed the momentum. We always sit in the batting meet and talk about changing momentum and changing the course of the game and that over today against Shakib did that for us.”
he said.
Bangladesh could manage only 158/6 in response, with Shakib playing the lone battle with a 52-ball 68*.
The series opener at the same venue on Saturday had been abandoned after just 13 overs could be bowled in the first innings due to persistent rains. The third T20I – the decider – will be played in Guyana on Thursday, July 7.
