Left-Arm Chinaman Spinner Mohammed Proves A Point

COOLIDGE, Antigua : Trinidad & Tobago's leg-spinner Dave Mohammed said his record-breaking performance against St. Lucia Pro Team in the Stanford 20/20 match at the Stanford Cricket Ground has proved a point.

"The pitch doesn't really take spin, but I came to prove a point," said Mohammed, despite being the second spinner to take five wickets in a match this season. Dominica's off-spinner Liam Sebastien took 5-20 against British Virgin Islands (BVI).

"I really came here tonight to prove a point ... that I can turn on glass," explained Mohammed, who finished with a tournament best 5wicket for 8 runs, bettering Jamaican Jerome Taylor's 5 for10 in 2006.

"I really got the ball to turn a little bit," added Mohammed, who played five Test matches for the West Indies.

"I believe in myself, I know what I can do with the ball. Anytime I have a ball in my hand, I am expecting things because I am a wicket-taker," he continued. "I always believe in myself, I have a fighting attitude," said the confident 28-year-old left-arm chinaman spinner.

He, however, noted that Trinidad & Tobago's victory, which set up a quarterfinal clash with St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was a team effort. "It was hard work by the team and myself," he said, but also disclosed "all the guys were depending on me".

"We did not have a good start, but I knew when I came to bowl, everybody was expecting things to happen and it actually happened," said Mohammed, who was introduced into the attack with St. Lucia on 80-1 in the 16th over.

St. Lucia suffered a middle order collapse and were restricted to 105 for nine at the end of 20 overs. Trinidad & Tobago, in reply, raced to 106 for two in 12 overs.

He disclosed what worked for him."The outfield was wet so I tried to get the wetness off the ball and seamed it around and that actually worked for me," said Mohammed, who has so far taken 10 Test wickets.