Malan the reluctant hero

8 July 2008

Dawid Malan punishes a short ball on the way to a sensational 51-ball century

Middlesex’s Twenty20 Cup hero Dawid Malan deflected the praise away from himself and credited the Crusaders attack for helping the county reach their first finals day in the competition.

Malan smashed a century off only 51 balls, with 10 fours and six sixes, to rescue Middlesex from 21 for four in the 12-run quarter-final win over Lancashire at the Brit Oval.

A half-century from Andrew Flintoff proved in vain for the Red Rose, who finished on 164 for eight chasing 177 to win.

Middlesex have often been the whipping boys in the shortened version of the game but Malan believes a mixture of youth and a varied attack hold the key to their revival this season.

He said: “What has changed for Middlesex in Twenty20 cricket? We’ve got a young team this year and the young boys are looking to improve themselves which always helps.

“There is a lot of energy and we’ve also got a good, mixed bowling attack.

“Dirk Nannes is a left-armer, Tim Murtagh swings it and Tyron Henderson is unbelievable at the death and just hits those right areas, and we also have two good spinners.

“The attack saves us quite a lot of games and also gives us decent targets to go for. They deserve credit.”

Malan admitted: “When it was 21 for four, it was hard work but Eoin Morgan gave us the momentum with a few great shots he played. It just took the pressure off me.

“We weren’t looking at a target - just to consolidate and not lose wickets for a couple of overs. Luckily it was a short boundary and I hit a few sixes.

Tim Murtagh savours the wicket of Lou Vincent as Lancashire's pursuit falters

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“I knew I had to do something with Freddie (Andrew Flintoff) coming on at the end with his death bowling being so good. It came off and I’m quite happy with that.”

Malan is refusing to get carried away with Middlesex’s success in the competition even though victory at the Rose Bowl on July 26 would take them into the money-spinning Champions League.

He said: “It is our first Twenty20 finals day and most of the boys are talking about that, that they can’t wait to get to the finals, but we don’t look too far ahead.

“We just look at the next game. With the Champions League, it is a massive incentive but we just look to the next game and if we win that, we will be happy with that.

“As for my own ambitions, at the moment I am just looking to get a fixed spot in the first team and then assess my situation from there.

“People tell me things are going well but, as soon as an innings has gone, it is in the past and I just look forward to the next game and the next opportunity.”

Lancashire captain Stuart Law said: “It was a tremendous display of hitting by Dawid but we still felt the total was gettable.

“Freddie was looking in good form and unfortunately hit a low full toss straight to backward square-leg when it could have gone anywhere, but let’s take nothing away from Middlesex.

“We’ve just got to pick ourselves up and play good championship cricket and then the Pro40 League starts next week.”