1 year ago
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NEW DELHI: England's
Dawid Malan
on Tuesday admitted to feeling weight of pressure, every series he features in however the opener believed that the best way to lift it was by consistently delivering match-winning performances, similar to the one he pulled off against Bangladesh in the World Cup clash in Dharamsala.
Against Bangladesh, Malan achieved his ODI career-best score of 140 and was involved in two crucial century-plus partnerships with Jonny Bairstow and
Joe Root
. The partnerships helped England amass 364 for 9 that helped the defending champions register a comfortable 137-run win.
At 36 years of age, Malan is optimistic that his recent performance will help reduce the burden of expectations he faces every time he steps onto the field to bat.
"I feel like every series I'm under pressure, so you know for me to keep silencing people is all I can do," the left-handed batter said.
"If I can score as many runs as I can and help contribute to wins, then hopefully, eventually people's opinions might change."
While he often had to sit out in the past, Malan has been in red-hot form in recent months grabbing every possible opportunity to cement his place in the side.
His conversation rate has been particularly impressive.
Since June last year, Malan crossed the 50-mark nine times and converted six of them into hundreds.
The batter attributed it to his hunger for runs that would keep him in the team.
"Just hungry, hungry to play and to do well, hungry to score runs and win games of cricket," he said.
"I've wanted to be part of this team for so long, it's been impossible to break into with the players that have been so good.
"So, to get your opportunity and try and take it and enjoy it as long as it lasts."
(With inputs from Reuters)
English (US)