Stokes revels in role as death bowler

AFP, NEW DELHI: Ice-cool allrounder Ben Stokes said Monday he was revelling in his role as England's death bowler after his nerves of steel once again kept his side in the World Twenty20.
With Sri Lanka needing 15 runs to win and their captain Angelo Mathews hitting England's bowlers around the park in Saturday's crunch match in New Delhi, Stokes was handed the ball at the start of the 20th over.
But after spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were clattered for 21 in their final overs, Stokes bowled a string of near perfect yorkers and conceded only four runs to secure England's place in the semi-finals.
While other England bowlers have come unstuck on the global stage -- including Stuart Broad who was hit for six sixes by India's Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 World T20 -- the 24-year-old Stokes is relishing the responsibility.
“I would much rather be doing that last over thing rather than hoping that whoever is bowling it gets us through. I'd rather be the man doing it,” he said in the build-up to Wednesday's semi-final against New Zealand.
“Yes, I love being involved in the game and being in high pressure situations. I think it probably brings the best out of me in terms of my cricket. I enjoy getting into the big moments of the game.”

Stokes revels in role as death bowler

AFP, NEW DELHI: Ice-cool allrounder Ben Stokes said Monday he was revelling in his role as Englands death bowler after his nerves of steel once again kept his side in the World Twenty20. With Sri Lanka needing 15 runs to win and their captain Angelo Mathews hitting Englands bowlers around the park in Saturdays crunch match in New Delhi, Stokes was handed the ball at the start of the 20th over. But after spinners Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were clattered for 21 in their final overs, Stokes bowled a string of near perfect yorkers and conceded only four runs to secure Englands place in the semi-finals. While other England bowlers have come unstuck on the global stage -- including Stuart Broad who was hit for six sixes by Indias Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 World T20 -- the 24-year-old Stokes is relishing the responsibility. I would much rather be doing that last over thing rather than hoping that whoever is bowling it gets us through. Id rather be the man doing it, he said in the build-up to Wednesdays semi-final against New Zealand. Yes, I love being involved in the game and being in high pressure situations. I think it probably brings the best out of me in terms of my cricket. I enjoy getting into the big moments of the game.