Chris Tremain has moved on from his calamitous 10-ball over in the Sydney Thunder's knockout final win over Adelaide and insists he won't be feeling the pressure against the Melbourne Stars on Thursday night.
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Yeoval product Tremain and the Thunder squeezed into the BBL finals in fifth spot but are now just one of three teams left in the tournament.
The face the Melbourne Stars for a spot in the decider on Thursday night after surviving a nervy win over the Adelaide Strikers.
Tremain bowled a 10-ball, 16-run over late in that match to give the Strikers hope but after his side got the job done the one-time Western Zone tearaway said he won't shy away from taking the ball at the death again.
"I wouldn't think so," he told the media on Monday.
"I'm more nervous bowling my first over than the last over, because you want to start well."
Tremain has got plenty of confidence in himself, and also his team.
A win over minor premiers Melbourne Stars at the MCG on Thursday will propel the Thunder into a NSW derby final two days later against Sydney Sixers at the SCG.
Thunder have won three in a row after performing inconsistently through the competition.
"We made a deal at the start of the tournament that we would be playing our best cricket at the back end," Tremain said.
"In the last two games we've stuck together a pretty good 40 overs and we're trending towards playing our best cricket."
Tremain's personal efforts have matched those of his team.
After featuring in his side's opening few games Tremain was dropped for the middle stages of the tournament before earning a recall.
And while he's played his part, one wayward over aside, in the Thunder's resurgence the biggest difference for the team in recent matches has been the form of Alex Hales.
The powerful English opening batsman has averaged almost 63 across his last five innings, in which he has hit four fifties and a 47.
"We've had our ups and downs through games and through the tournament and we're peaking at the right time and I think Alex is now too," Tremain said.
Hales didn't make the BBL team of the tournament announced on Monday, with the Stars' Marcus Stoinis and the Scorchers' Josh Inglis named as the openers.
The only Thunder player named was paceman Daniel Sams, who has taken a competition season-record of 30 wickets.
"We're definitely a team, not just a team of stars," Tremain said.
The Thunder and Stars meet in The Challenger finals match from 7.40pm on Thursday night.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
