BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Kjorn Ottley said he feels settled and at home playing for the Barbados Pride in the Colonial Medical Insurance Super50 Cup.
The Trinidad & Tobago-born left-handed opener is part of the Pride line-up for this year’s Super50 Cup, following a productive season last year, when he helped Combined Campuses & Colleges Marooners win the tournament and clinch their first ever senior regional title.
The Pride too, will be hoping that Ottley could be their good luck charm. After all, he has also been a part of the T&T Red Force team that won the Super50 Cup title in 2015-16.
Ottley led the Pride batting on Monday with a polished, undefeated 70 that anchored them to a nine-wicket win over Canada on a placid Conaree Cricket Centre pitch.
He spoke with CWI Media following the game and said he wants to play a big role for the Pride. . .
On bouncing back from defeat:
I think we stuck to our plan more closely. We worked together and we tried to keep the energy levels high and we did our best to restrict Canada to a total around 160.
On the importance of the result:
Recovering from defeat is always good, so the team is in good stead going into the next game, so the players will be confident and hoping we can do well again.
On what went right for him:
First, I give thanks to the Almighty for the innings. Nothing is possible without him. I think early up I assessed the pitch better and started by playing much straighter and played my natural game after I got in.
On his confidence following his innings:
It is well for me coming not out, so I feel good going into the next game. Hopefully, I can produce another good innings for the team.
On playing for the Pride:
As it has always been said, Barbados is like a second home to me. I think the players have welcomed me with both hands. I thank them and the management for that. I think it is working out well for me.
On the reasons why Barbados feels like a second home:
I have been coming to Barbados to play the game from the time I was about 11 years old. I have played a lot of youth games there. I have played for Marooners which is based there. Plus, I have played club games in Barbados, so I know many of the players and I am very comfortable with them.
On how the franchise team system has benefitted him:
It does a lot for me. Different teams, different cultures mean I have to adjust, so I think it will benefit me as a player throughout my career.
On pitch conditions:
I think it was good pitch for batting. There was not much assistance for the bowlers. But I think it came down to which team applied themselves better on the pitch, and I think we did better.
On how the result benefits the team:
This game is over, and we are now looking forward to the next game. We will not be taking the Leeward Islands Hurricanes lightly; they are unbeaten and are playing well, so we will be looking to go hard at them.
Source: CWI Media
