The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : ‘Sachin’s wicket was crucial’

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Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
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‘Sachin’s wicket was crucial’

— Photo: AP

TIME TO CELEBRATE: Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq (left) congratulates Younis Khan, after the latter scored a match-winning century against India on Thursday.

Mohali: After beating India in a thrilling match, Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan said that Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket proved crucial for his team as he was looking dangerous and could have helped India post a total of 400 plus runs.

“The way Sachin was playing, India looked set to post a target of 350 plus, even 400 runs could have been scored. Chasing such a big target would have definitely been difficult for us,” Younis, who scored 117 and was named the man-of-the-match, said.

He termed Tendulkar’s dismissal as “sheer bad luck” for the Indians.

Gul’s spell

He said that 23-year-old pacer Umar Gul had brought them back in the business and put a halt to the blistering stroke play unleashed by the Tendulkar (99) and Gautam Gambhir (57).

“Umar brought us back in the game. Shoaib Akhtar’s second spell was also good,” the 29-year-old Younis said.

He said his team had decided that someone needs to stay there till the end and play a big innings.

“We knew Shahid (Afridi) is a good finisher and he proved it in the end.

“We also knew that in the last few overs even if we have to chase over 10 plus, we would make them,” he said, adding the way ODIs were being played now chasing over 200 in the last 20 overs was not a big task provided you had wickets.

Range of strokes

Asked if Twenty20 had changed the game and made chasing more easier, Younis said,

“I think a range of shots are being played by the batsmen these days. Slog shots and reverse sweeps are being more commonly employed these days.”

Khan said there was great camaraderie in the way the match was played.

“I liked the fireworks which went up at the end of the match. We get support when we travel to India and the Indians get good crowd support when they tour Pakistan,” he said.

About the pitch, Younis said it looked very good right from the start and that the Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni had taken the right decision in electing to bat first. — PTI

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