Mohammad Hafeez credits bowlers for the five-wicket win over India – Cricket News Update
Happy to see his team kick starting the much-awaited India tour with a comprehensive five-wicket win, Pakistan skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 credited his bowlers, especially debutant Mohammad Irfan, for the emphatic victory.
While speaking to media reporters after winning the tour-opening T20 International here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore, on Tuesday night, Hafeez said that the team played according to the plan and did not take unnecessary risks. He also termed lanky seamer Mohammad http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Irfan-c64444 as a surprise package for both India and Pakistan.
"It is a great effort as we wanted to do well at the start of the series," said Hafeez at the post-match presentation ceremony after winning the first T20 encounter by five wickets.
"Mohammed Irfan was the surprise package for us and everybody. We knew that we had a good attack with Umar Gul who has always been good with the old ball. Our bowlers restricted http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 where we wanted them to," he added further.
After opting to field first, the Pakistan bowlers restricted India to a middling 133 for 9 in their allotted quota of twenty overs. None of the Indian batsmen, except openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ajinkya-Rahane-c970 (42), could manage to get past the 10-run mark, as the hosts slumped from 77 without loss to 133 for 9 at the end of the 20th over.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/V-Kohli-c2737 (caught behind on 9).
In reply, Pakistan got off to a wobbly start, losing three wickets inside the first three overs of their chase, with the team’s total just 12. However, skipper Hafeez (61) and experienced http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shoaib-Malik-c90088 (57 not out) rescued the side sharing a 106-run stand between them for the fourth wicket.
About their batting plan the Pakistan skipper, who walked away with the Man of the Match award, said, "Once the spinners came on, after the new ball, we knew we had a chance, we took a risk at the right time."
The second and final T20 International between India and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 will be played in Ahmedabad on Friday.
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