Highveld Lions fast bowler Chris Morris admitted that his world record in Twenty20 cricket had been driven by sheer determination after two nightmarish outings in the Ram Slam T20 last weekend.

Morris recorded figures of none for 37 against the Warriors last Friday and none for 50 against the Knights two days later – a return which led to a week of ‘silent treatment’ from his father, former Northern Transvaal left-arm spinner, Willie Morris.

‘I think the only reason he didn’t speak to me was because I was too scared to speak to him,’ joked Chris.

However, on Friday he was back to his best as he recorded the most economical figures in the history of Twenty20 cricket by a bowler sending down four overs, and taking 2 for 2 as the Lions beat the Cobras by 47 runs to extend their lead at the top of the Ram Slam table.

The 27-year-old’s initial two-over spell cost him nothing and brought the wicket of Richard Levi, and in his next two overs he recorded a third maiden and made a second breakthrough.

Only one scoring shot was effected against him, as he notched up 23 dot balls in his four overs.

Asked how determined he had been to turn things around after last weekend, Morris replied: ‘Rather determined. To be honest it was a bit of a rough week for me mentally because I set quite high standards for myself.

‘I knew I had to fight hard to come back to the level where I know I can play, and fortunately it came off and the team won.

‘Alviro (Petersen) came to me before the last ball and said that if I went for one run or less then I would get the world record, so that was going around in my head.’

Morris had plenty of praise for his fellow seamers, who limited the Cobras to 94-7 in their 20 overs, and in particular for Hardus Viljoen, who took 2 for 12 in his allotment.

‘When he’s on form he’s a class act,’ said Morris. ‘He can be quite aggressive as we saw, but the whole bowling unit bowled well as a team and we’re just happy stringing the wins together.’

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