Top drawer fielding by the entire team in their last two matches had made a huge difference to the fortunes of the Mumbai team, feels one of its key players Sanath Jayasuriya.
"The key difference in the last two games has been the fielding. It was of a very high standard and lifted the confidence of the players," said the 38-year-old veteran Sri Lankan ace who played a significant role in their shock 29-run victory last night against Delhi.
Mumbai Indians had lost four straight games before turning around their fortunes against the Sourav Ganguly-led Kolkata at the Eden Gardens and then defended their small total of 162 against the high-flying Delhi with vigour and verve.
Jayasuriya said that still the batting of the squad has to click in unison and especially the start needed to be better now that all the top batsmen looked in good nick.
"The start has to be good. I thought I played well in the last game but could not take it further. All our batsmen have shown good form. The key in T20 cricket is that one batsman in the top four needs to play for 15 overs or so," said the former Sri Lanka captain known for his flamboyant batting.
Jayasuriya, who redifined one-day batting at the top of the order during his country's victorious run in the 1996 World Cup, said that the junior cricketers in the team were learning a lot from the other international players.
On Shaun Pollock's captaincy in the last two games, Jayasuriya said, "he's got vast experience having captained South Africa for long. His captaincy was very good," he said.
Jayasuriya, who redifined one-day batting at the top of the order during his country's victorious run in the 1996 World Cup, said that the junior cricketers in the team were learning a lot from the other international players.
On Shaun Pollock's captaincy in the last two games, Jayasuriya said, "he's got vast experience having captained South Africa for long. His captaincy was very good," he said.