When joke became reality for debutant pacer Behrendorff
ADELAIDE: On a dream ODI debut, Australian pacer Jason Behrendorff picked up a wicket in his very first over and this was exactly what he had joked about ahead of the match.
In a nightmare start to their chase, India were reduced to four for three in the fourth over, with Behrendorff snapping up Shikhar Dhawan for a duck in the very first over.
“I was a little nervous in the first over. It shows you care and it was good fun. But I cannot ask much more than how that first over went about. I joked with a couple of guys that I would love to have a wicket in my first ODI over, and then it happened. That was one way to settle the nerves,” Behrendorff said on Sunday.
His new-ball partner Jhye Richardson left India in the lurch as well, removing Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu, and the visitors never really recovered.
“Richardson and I have worked on our partnership. My main strength is to swing the ball up front. He bowls pretty quick as well. Our plan was to take wickets up front and fortunately we did that. Peter Siddle saw through the middle overs and I thought all the bowlers bowled really well. We had simple plans and executed them for the most part,” he said.
“It was unreal last night for obvious reasons. I was making my debut and to get a win against a star studded Indian team was awesome. I am extremely happy. It has been a tough road for last three years for me, but I am really focussed on white ball cricket. I just want continuity and look forward to be playing again,” he added.
The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series on Saturday, winning the first ODI by 34 runs. Behrendorff took 2-39 on his ODI debut, including the wicket of Dhoni, which broke the partnership, as well as Indian hopes of an improbable win.