Vettori Pays Tribute To Pathan After Match-Winning Ton

Vettori Pays Tribute To Pathan After Match-Winning Ton

Yusuf Pathan celebrates his maiden ODI century in Bangalore

©REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has praised Yusuf Pathan after the all-rounder's aggressive unbeaten century helped India move into a 4-0 One-Day International series win in Bangalore.

Pathan smashed an unbeaten 123 in 96 balls - his maiden ODI century - as India chased down 316 to win with seven balls to spare as New Zealand's improved batting effort proved to be in vain.

“James Franklin’s 98 off 70 balls is an amazing effort and he gave us a total should have been defendable,” he told New Zealand Cricket's website (www.blackcaps.co.nz).

“We started off pretty well but Yusuf Pathan really took the game away from us.  His ability to hit the ball out of the ground made it incredibly difficult for us to stop his momentum and he was too good for us in the end.

“It was a very impressive innings. He allowed himself to get in and wasn’t too aggressive at the start and once he started to feel comfortable he played some shots. He basically saved himself up for the third powerplay and was able to really get going – it was hard to claw him back.

“I think we were well and truly in the game until the powerplay and unfortunately, that’s where we lost it."

Shifting his focus to the final match in Chennai on 10th December, he added:

“We will look at it as we do every game – to win it.  I know that’s hard to say after losing so many games in a row but we still think we can do it. 

“The batsmen showed how good they can be.  If we get that performance again we hope our bowlers can do better."

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