I just enjoy my batting, says prolific opener

KOLKATA: When Nasir Jamshed returned empty-handed even after hitting a match-winning ton in Pakistan’s first One-day International in Chennai last Sunday, he was really disappointed.

But the young opener wasn’t disheartened and once again flayed the home team’s bowling attack for yet another century – his third consecutive ton against India — in Thursday’s second ODI here at the Eden Gardens.

This time, he was picked as the man of the match after Indian captain MS Dhoni – who bagged the award in Chennai for his stunning century – failed to even take his team close to a much-needed win to level the three-match series.

“I just enjoy my batting,” Nasir said in his post match comments after hitting 106 from 124 balls to enable Pakistan to record a series-winning victory. “The last time I missed the man of the match (award) but was lucky this time as they gave it to me,” added the left-hander

“I just kept a cool mind, and (Mohammad) Hafeez played a great innings. The pitch was a little bit slow and I just played according to the ball. It was a dream to play at this ground.”

With three centuries on the trot against Dhoni and Co, Jamshed is fast becoming a scourge for Indian bowlers.

Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistan captain, believes the national team is lucky to have such a talented batter in its ranks.

“Jamshed was an injury prone guy but is an exceptional talent. I am really very pleased with him. We are very lucky to have him in the team,” said Intikhab, the former national coach who is among the several former skippers from Pakistan and India invited by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for a felicitation programme that commemorated the 25th year of 50-overs cricket Eden gardens on Thursday.

“It is good to see him fulfilling the expectations that we all have from him,” Intikhab was quoted as saying in an interview.

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