I bowled my best ball to dismiss Tendulkar: Rampaul
March 21st, 2011 - 8:41 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, March 21 (IANS) West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul says he bowled the best ball of his cricketing career to get rid of Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar during Sunday’s World Cup clash at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Rampaul, who made his debut at the World Cup, dismissed Tendulkar in the final ball of his first over. It was a lifter on the top of the off stump and Tendulkar could not handle it. The ball took the edge and keeper Devon Thomas accepted the offering. Tendulkar walked and the more than 25,000 fans went silent.
“It was the best ball of my cricket career. It was one of those moments in life you dream of. When I saw him walk I felt great. It was an amazing feeling,” Rampaul said.
“I wasn’t sure how to celebrate. Here was I, in one of the biggest matches of my career, getting the wicket of one of the greatest batsmen. I felt really great to get such a massive breakthrough for the team.”
Rampaul was drafted into the starting line-up due to the illness of pacer Kemar Roach.
He grabbed the opportunity with both hands to get his career-best bowling figures of five for 51. The West Indies however lost the match by 80 runs. The result put India second in the group and the West Indies qualified for the quarterfinals at fourth place.
“I was happy to get into the team and play my part. It was very exciting to play in front such a large crowd on such a big stage. I went out and got five wickets and I was really happy to get the full support of everyone in the team. I was happy to be able to make the most of my opportunity,” said the 26-year-old Rampaul.
“The pitch had some extra bounce at the start of the India innings and I knew if I got the ball in the right areas I would be successful. Later in the innings I got the ball to reverse swing and I attacked the stumps. Things went in my favour and I felt good to get my first five-wicket haul in One-day cricket.”
The West Indies will travel to Dhaka in Bangladesh on Monday for their quarterfinal against Pakistan Wednesday.
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Tags: chidambaram stadium, cricket, cup clash, devon thomas, favour, large crowd, lifter, maestro, march 21, moments in life, pacer, quarterfinals, roach, sachin tendulkar, starting line, stumps, west indies, wicket haul, wickets, world cup