In spite of facing a setback with a six-wicket defeat to Morrisville Samp Army in their last round-robin match at the Abu Dhabi T10 2023, the New York Strikers maintain their confidence as they approach the playoffs.
Having secured a position in the top two after a string of five consecutive victories in the initial stage of the competition, the Strikers strategically opted to rest key players, including Sunil Narine, Akeal Hosein, Muhammad Jawadullah, and Mammad Amir, in their Thursday match. Unfortunately, their decision to bat first resulted in the Strikers being bowled out for 70, a total easily chased down by the opposing team in just 7 overs.
Commenting on the outcome, New York Strikers coach Carl Crowe emphasized that securing a top-two finish was their primary goal for the tournament, allowing them the luxury of resting players after an intense few days of back-to-back matches. Despite the loss, Crowe expressed disappointment but highlighted the importance of learning from the experience, emphasizing the team’s commitment to analyzing areas of improvement for the upcoming playoffs.
Crowe acknowledged that the team gained valuable insights into the conditions on the second-to-last day of the competition, and they plan to leverage this knowledge in their favor during the upcoming games. While admitting dissatisfaction with the performance, Crowe remains optimistic, stating that the team will return stronger and better-prepared for the playoffs, aiming to showcase an impressive performance and fight for victory.
Fast bowler Asif Khan, making his first appearance of the season, echoed the coach’s sentiments, emphasizing the team’s determination to bring a more positive energy to the forthcoming matches. Reflecting on the batting challenges faced in the last game, Asif acknowledged the need for improvement but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back. He hinted at the likely return of rested players for the playoff games on Friday, emphasizing the team’s commitment to playing with the same intensity and bringing their A-game to continue their unbeaten streak from the last five matches.
