Batting gave me a lot of confidence says Irfan Pathan – Cricket News Update
Indian all-rounder, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, said that his batting in the death overs gave him confidence to perform well with the ball, as he nailed down five Lankan scalps which helped his side win by 20 runs at Pallekele.
"God's grace. I was bowling well throughout the series. Had too many bad deliveries today but got five wickets. The batting gave me a lot of confidence, it came at the right time," Pathan said.
Along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028, Pathan added a much needed 77-run partnership towards the end of the innings as the visitors compiled 274 in 50 overs. The momentum with the bat was swiftly carried forward as the 27-year-old finished with figures of 5 for 61 runs. The all-rounder later added that the conditions helped his bowling.
The last two matches at Pallekele have favoured the side bowling second, while four out of previous seven times, the team defending their total has managed a win at the venue.
"In Premadasa and here, the ball does swing with the humid conditions, and with the two new balls it does help swing the ball. It's a great feeling," he added
Pathan was dropped from the Indian side following his insipid performances in Asia Cup 2012, where the Men in Blue suffered an embarrassing loss to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747. In that particular match, the left-armer was unable to pick a wicket, while was taken apart by the Bengali batter, leading the management to prefer an out a pacer.
However, injury to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/R-Vinay-Kumar-c2237 forced a change in the team’s plan and the player restored the selector’s faith by putting in impressive efforts with both, bat and ball.
Prior to the current tour, Indian selectors were looking for bowling all-rounders, considering the problems they had to face during the past 12 months in filling the fifth bowler spot. A bad run for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RA-Jadeja-c2238 and a rehabilitation period for Yuvraj Singh all the more sealed Pathan’s passage into the team and his recent performances have surely helped his cause to become a permanent feature in another gruelling season.
The 4-1 series victory has further helped the Men in Blue to claim the second spot in the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625’s ODI team ranking.
Tags: