Zulu back in business with a bang

AHMEDABAD: It was back to business for South African Lance Klusener. The 37-year-old native of Durban, who went home for a couple of days after his team Royal Bengal Tigers failed to make it to the finals of the 20s Indian Championship earlier this month, turned in an all-round performance to help World XI score a 12-run victory over debutants Bangladesh XI in the first match of the 20s World Series at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel Stadium, here on Sunday night.
The break in cricket seems to have done wonders to his body and mind."Some of us had stayed back after the previous tournament while some went back home. I too went to South Africa for a couple of days.
"It was a good break. I got time to spend with my family and it was quite refreshing," Klusener, who was named the Man-of-the-Match, said after the match.
Coming into bat when his team was reeling at 39 for three, Klusener played himself in before unleashing his strokes at the end of the innings to help World XI make 167 for six.
His unbeaten 63 came off 49 balls and was studded with four fours and two sixes. And if that wasn't enough, he returned to break the back of the Bangladesh innings.
With Bangladesh going strong at 75 for two, Klusener got rid of the dangerous Alok Kapali (1) and then sent back captain Habibul Bashar (3) and Mahbubul Karim (0) off consecutive balls - fifth and sixth balls of the 12th over - to be in line for a hat-trick. However, Mosharraf Hussain denied the Zulu a hat-trick.
"I wasn't even aware of the hat-trick. I just tried something different and it didn't come off. On hindsight, getting two wickets off consecutive balls is in itself good and I am happy with my performance on this night," he added.
On the wicket, he said: "It was a pretty good wicket for batting. We lost a couple of wickets early and that put some pressure on the middle order."
Asked if the combined experience of World XI prevailed over the Bangladesh side, Klusener said: "It is possible.
"Many of us have a lot of international experience and that could have been a factor today. But the Bangladesh side is very competitive and with a bit of luck they could have won the game.
"Cricket is a team game and everyone has to contribute. I am glad that I was able to do well with bat and ball. As a team we were a bit scratchy but I am sure we will sort things out in the next few matches," he added.
Asked if he had focused on containing or on taking wickets considering the fact that Bangladesh had got off to a great start, he said: "If one keeps it tight and denies the opposition easy runs, then wickets do tend to fall. (Nicky) Boje had kept it tight so I too concentrated on tightening things up but was lucky in getting a couple of wickets."