Rampaul breaks Tendulkar fans’ hearts

That's what Rampaul was after he sent back Tendulkar

Rampaul breaks Tendulkar fans' hearts

That's what Rampaul was after he sent back Tendulkar

West Indies had a plan for Sachin Tendulkar, but there were very few who believed that the plan could be successful against a rampaging master blaster. Anyway, the plan did work and it robbed Indian supporters of witnessing Tendulkar's 100th international century on his home ground.

Maan, what a wicket: Ravi Rampaul is congratulated byu00a0Kirk Edwards
for claiming Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday.
Pic/AFP

Gibson effect?
"This morning, the coach (Ottis Gibson) and I were chatting while warming up about how we are going to bowl at him. Basically, the brief was to bowl from close to the wicket and angle the ball away from him. So I did that. He nicked and I got a good feeling," said Ravi Rampaul, who dismissed Tendulkar for 94.

The West Indies quick, who is capable of bowling over 140kmph, also observed Tendulkar from close quarters and altered his ploy according. "The wicket had bounce and Sachin was batting out of his crease, trying to get the ball a little fuller. I realised that and pulled back my length a little bit. The ball actually bounced well," he revealed.

Basic plan
The basic plan for the visitors was to unsettle the maestro and that worked wonders to fetch them a lead of 108 runs. "Our aim was to unsettle him a little bit. We are fast bowlers and the bouncer is in our armoury, so we use it as much as possible. We had to get Sachin out so we tried that at him little more, trying to make him uncomfortable," felt Rampaul.

Cricket crazy fans at the Wankhede Stadium though didn't spare Rampaul for spoiling their day and it was Rampaul was at the receiving end of some jeers when he fielded in the deep. "When I was back to the boundary, I got heckled in a way, but that's how cricket goes. I know I have let a lot of Sachin fans down, but we can't just let him go out there and play freely. We had our jobs to do such as he had his,"
Rampaul stated.