Kolkata: After the bowlers had done their job by restricting Kolkata Knight Riders for 97, Irfan Pathan came up with a swashbuckling innings of 42 off 30 balls and helped Delhi Daredevils post an emphatic eight wicket win over the hosts in their IPL opening encounter at Eden Gardens on Thursday.  Happy with the way he batted today, the all-rounder said that he would like to take more wickets and keep contributing with the bat for his team’s cause.

“I am happy with the way I batted today. I was supposed to come at No 7. But Viru wanted a left hander and I joined him after Finch got out.  I am quite pleased about the (three) sixes that I hit. It was important at that moment as when are chasing nine runs an over, you need a big over and that was a big over for us,” said Irfan, saying that playing against brother Yusuf as rival was something he didn’t like.

“This was a game I never wanted to play. Hitting Yusuf for four wasn’t pleasant. But then I wanted to win for the team and I am happy about that,” said the younger brother, stating that he flawless innings was facilitated by pace of the fast bowlers and good timing that he managed to hit the ball with today.

Skipper Virender Sehwag too was in all praise for Irfan and was also happy with the way his bowlers bowled today. “It was a good win. All the boys really did well. Bowlers were outstanding, especially Mornie (Morkel). Fielding too was outstanding and it is a result of  hard work that we have put in on the field,” said Sehwag.

Meanwhile KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir gave the credit of the win to Mornie Morkel and Irfan Pathan. “Mornie bowled quality balls to Jacques Kallis and Manoj Tiwary. Despite all top order not coming out good, we posted a defending total of 96. But later Irfan took the game away from us,” said Gambhir.