MUMBAI, Apr 23: Mumbai Indians have recorded their sixth IPL win on the trot this season, but pacer Mitchell McClenaghan says there’s still a long way to think about the play-offs and his side need to be consistent to reach that stage.
McClenaghan played a crucial role in Mumbai’s 14-run victory over Delhi Daredevils last night, by grabbing three wickets at the Wankhede stadium here.
“It’s a long way to go (to reach play-offs). We have got a very liberal management and a very liberal team. So, fresh start every time, planning process is injected at the same time. Same routine. It’s important that we do not get too high or two low, just stay consistent because there is ups and downs in T20 cricket,” he said at the post match conference.
After yesterday’s win, Mumbai have 12 points from seven matches and have consolidated their top spot.
The Kiwi pacer said while defending a modest total, their bowlers stuck to the plan and bowled with control.
“Obviously, you have to take wickets upfront. The message was very clear, just do our things. When you think of a sub-par score on a pretty good wicket, the team insists you to go out and be too aggressive with the ball and make things happen from the outset.
“We worked very hard with Bondy (Shane Bond, bowling coach), our analyst, (coach) Mahela (Jayawardene) to what plans in place and we stuck to our plans. We bowled with control, but still with a nice presence,” McClenaghan said when asked what was the team’s approach defending 142 on the board.
Asked if it was the most pleasing win for the side so far, he said, “We have bowled in some absolutely cracking games. It’s been so many games where it may not look like we are going to win, but we showed a lot of maturity, all the young guys showed maturity in other games and the big players like Kieron Pollard standing up in few games.
“It is a nice sense of confidence, but not arrogance, which is very nice because in a group like this, because you know you can back the skills of the boy next to you and you are going to know that he is going to give his 100 per cent.”
McClenaghan admitted that the dew factor did not play a part in the game and was lesser compared to other games.
“Thankfully, there was not any dew as it has been in probably the first games over here. So, slower balls came into reckoning a little bit more. As we saw from the crowd’s reaction, it can be incredibly tough to restrict guys in chasing. So, thankfully it will stay like this a little longer and provide an even contest,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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