WA spinner Corey Rocchiccioli says experience from being in a similar situation earlier in the season helped him guide his side to a thrilling one-wicket win against Queensland last week.
Rocchiccoli had a key role with both bat and ball in a performance that saw him claim player of the match accolades in WA’s first win of the Sheffield Shield season.
Less than a month ago, Rocchiccioli faced a similar scenario, making 23no from 55 balls and attempted to bring WA home on the final day against Tasmania, but to no avail, with Tasmania claiming the three-run win.
But the 28-year-old was able to right WA’s wrongs this time around, and made an unbeaten 24 runs from 37 deliveries, including three consecutive boundaries to see WA over the line.
Rocchiccioli says being able to redeem himself in a similar situation was “awesome.”
“That’s why you play. Some days you’re having that agony and the next day you’re having the ecstasy,” he told SportFM.
“It was painful getting through that night and then getting so close the next day, and then asking yourself a thousand questions, whether you could have done things differently.
“Obviously, getting yourself in that situation again. I don’t know whether I always want to be out there. I’m not sure it’s great for my heart, but just to be able to get out there and enjoy that ecstasy and hit those winning runs eradicates all of those feelings.”
Out at the crease, Rocchiccioli steered the tail end towards victory, after a solid 81-run performance from captain Sam Whiteman laid the foundations.
He says he felt no pressure and knew the lower-order could get the job done.
“I wasn’t really too concerned with who was coming out to bat. I knew they had the ability to score the runs as well. I wasn’t feeling any excess pressure to do it all on my end,” he said.
“Being in the situation a couple of times before, you’ve got a trusty partner down the other end. We were just trusting and talking through what was happening in the middle, whether they were going, they were trying to swing it, bash away.
“We were trying to keep it calm and keep it cool, but it’s not very synonymous with my headspace for the best of times. He [Cam Gannon] was doing the best to keep me nice and calm.”
It was a stunning all-round performance from Rocchicchioli, who also bagged a five-wicket haul during WA’s second innings.
Roccicchioli picked off four wickets late during day three, then another one early Friday morning, which allowed WA more precious time at the crease to chase the 272 target set by Queensland.
He said his plan of attack was focused on slowing the run rate, then everything fell into place.
“When I got my second spell, I was more thinking about how I was going to contain the stumps more than I was thinking about getting on a heater,” he said.
“It all started with going around the wicket. I was trying to use the Freo Drift and Freo Doctor, and luckily enough, the first ball was nicked. Then the back end of the next over had another nick.
“I got on a roll. There wasn’t any genius planning or anything. It was just purely about me trying to stop the run rate and figure out a way to be a little bit defensive and attacking.
“Once I got on a heater it was it was quite a good feeling being out there.”
IMAGE: cricket.com.au