By IANS
Brisbane : Irfan Pathan might have had a nightmarish series but the left-hander emerged as India’s key man as he kept his nerves to bowl the nail-biting last over of the tri-series final against Australia Tuesday.
After being clobbered for 54 runs in his eight-over spell, Pathan (2-33) scalped two crucial wickets in the final over giving India a historic series win over Australia.
“The pressure was there. But I handled it pretty well. I might have gone for runs but I feel I bowled decent today. Though I accept that my performance was not good in Sydney (first final),” said Pathan, who bowled the final over in which Australia needed 13 runs to win the match.
Pathan was effusive in praise for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy.
“His (Dhoni’s) presence makes a lot of difference. He is always calm and we were joking when I got my first wicket,” said a beaming Pathan.
“We are now looking ahead. We have been doing well. We are bowling well, our batting too improved. I am feeling good for myself and the team,” he added.