Haddin praises team after CLT20 triumph

Sydney down Lions in final to collect $2.5m.

JOHANNESBURG: Sydney Sixers captain Brad Haddin praised his team’s performance after the Australian outfit downed the Highveld Lions in the Champions League Twenty20 final at the Wanderers.

Michael Lumb struck an unbeaten 82 as Sydney overwhelmed Lions by 10 wickets with 45 balls to spare.

Fittingly, it was a four from Lumb that brought the rout to an end, leaving the Sydney franchise $2.5 million richer while Lions skipper Alviro Petersen collected a $1.3 million cheque.

“Twenty20 cricket is all about going with your gut feel and it worked this time,” said Haddin. “I captain a great group of guys who proved today that they are a pretty good cricket team.”

Haddin, whose 43-Test career was likely to come to a halt with Matthew Wade expected to be named wicket-keeper for a November home series against South Africa, said using spinners up
front was a gamble that paid off.

Petersen could not pinpoint what went wrong.

“I cannot put my finger on it – perhaps nerves played a part – but let us give credit to Sixers because they outplayed us in all departments,” said Peterson.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.