Experience of playing a super over came handy: Dippenaar

Diamond Eagles captain Boeta Dippenaar admitted that his side was well on course for a convincing win and should have wrapped up the match within the stipulated time but said it was the prior experience of playing a super over that helped his side keep its cool and edge out Sussex Sharks.

In a closely fought group B match of Champions League last night, Eagles edged out Susses Sharks in the super over.

Dippenaar said his side had recently played a super over in a semi-final in the domestic competition and the experience came handy.

''It certainly did help to have been in the same situation earlier as well. We had the experience of playing a super over in our domestic competition and that experience came handy today,'' Dippenaar said.

However, he did admit that the start that opener Rilee Rossouw provided, Eagles shouldn't have got to that stage of super over. ''Of, Course we shouldn't have got to that stage of super over. The wicket was getting tougher and tougher to bat and even Rilee was finding it hard to play the spinners but still with the start that we got, we shouldn't have got to that stage.

''The wicket was better than the previous one on which we played our last match here but today we were playing on a different strip. Later on in the innings, the pitch was again getting lower and slower,'' he added.

Left-handed opener Rossouw, who struck a magnificent 64 off 62 balls, also came in for a lot of praise from his captain.

It was this promise in Rossouw that the Royal Challengers Bangalore must have seen that the IPL franchise signed him up for their next season.

Dippenaar said with the confidence and talent that Rossouw has, he would surely make it to the national side some day.

''I think he (Rossouw) is the best young prospect for South Africa by far. I'll bet my mortgage on it that he would have a very successful career for South Africa and has a great career ahead,'' Dippenaar said of Rossouw.

Pacer Cornelius de Villiers, who bowled the super over for the Eagles and wrapped up the match in just two balls said he had a clear idea how to go about his job.

''Both Luke Wright and Smith are formidable players to full-length deliveries so we thought sticking to balls that are back-of-length would be a success,'' de Villiers said.

Rossouw meanwhile, was happy to get runs ahead of the next stage and said he would like to take the form into the second stage.

''We had a great start but credit must be given to Sussex bowlers who made the job difficult for us. It was very nice to score runs today and has given me confidence which I'll carry into the next stage,'' he said.

''I was approached by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and I have signed up for them,'' he added.

Sharks skipper Michael Yardy said it was disappointing to have been knocked out of the tournament but added that the experience of playing against some of the top players of world would be of great help for his players.

''Very disappointing to be out of the competition in the first round. We set ourselves to do well in this tournament.

''It's still a good experience for some of the young guys, especially watching some of the top players of the world play on these slow and low pithces.''

-- (UNI) -- 14SPD8.xml

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