Dubai: Jacques Kallis, the skipper of the Libra Legends has announced that his team will bounce back strongly after his team’s 78 run defeat to Gemini Arabians in the opening match of the Masters Champions League on Thursday.
“We tried as well as we could but unfortunately it was not our day and they fully outplayed us on the day. We have to accept it and that happens in this format of the game. Our guys will bounce back with a couple of days practice and be ready for the next one.”
When ‘Gulf News’ asked if the defeat — despite maintaining a good run rate till the 10th over — was due to lack of depth in his team’s batting, Kallis said: “I think you need to get two batters in to score quickly on a small ground. Unfortunately we lost wickets along the way, which is going to happen when you are chasing almost 12 runs an over. If you can get two batters in you can score quickly and hopefully you can learn from it.”
Kallis sportingly praised his opponents Gemini Arabians and even remarked that they are the team to beat. “I think they played really well. They probably are the side to beat in this tournament. They are a good outfit. A couple of their players did come off and played really well. Unfortunately as far as our team we did not play as well as we would have liked. That happens and we will sort it out when we get to Sharjah,” assured Kallis, who will now be playing against Virgo Super Kings on February 3 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
Kallis also revealed that injuries to a few players have affected the team including their star player Sourav Ganguly who had to pull out of the event. “We had a few injuries but then that is part and parcel of sports. Now we will get them fit for the next game and we will have a look at that side. We should try and win the next match to get back in the tournament but there is still a lot of games to go and we will bounce back,” he said confidently.
Kallis was all praise for Kumar Sangakkara’s knock of 86. “Sangakkara certainly played pretty well. He started to look slow and then got himself in. He struck it really well and he is a world-class player and he did that again tonight. A few of their batters got stuck in and [Richard] Levi certainly hit the ball as well as he could.”
Kallis concluded by appealing to cricket fans in UAE to turn up in large numbers. “It was a good atmosphere here. Hopefully we can get few more people to come and watch the next few games. I think they have realised what a good competition it is with some world class players out here. It will be nice to see them come out and support.”
