He was gunning for Sachin Tendulkar's wicket ever since Highveld Lions were drawn to play Mumbai Indians in the Champions League Twenty20.
So thrilled was little-known spinner Aaron Phangiso of Highveld Lions after getting the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar that he remained up all night to celebrate.
Highveld Lions defeated the defending champions by eight wickets with seven balls to spare last night. Aaron's lone contribution to his team's winning cause was dismissing Tendulkar for a mere 16.
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The victory dance that followed the dismissal showed what it meant for the hardly-known Aaron to dismiss the revered Indian veteran. "I enjoyed that wicket especially being one the greatest batsman in the world, Sachin Tendulkar; I enjoyed that a lot," Aaron said after the match.
"Celebration is definitely going to continue for me. We are going to celebrate. It is a big game for us, and a big win. "No, I am not going to sleep. I am just going to enjoy this moment," he added.
Phangiso (C) celebrates Tendulkar's (L) wicket with teammate. Photo: AFP
Asked what was going through his mind when Tendulkar was at the crease, Aaron said he just wanted to come up with some of his best bowling against celebrated veteran.
"It is one of those moments, for which you have been preparing, knowing that we are playing against the Mumbai Indians. I was prepared and I just tried to do what I do best and then hoped to do well," Aaron said.
"I have just been doing the normal stuff. Bowling in the nets and bowling to our players that's all that I have been doing. I have just been working on my line and length that's what I have been working on," he added.
Meanwhile, losing team's pacer Lasith Malinga said the Lions batted extremely well to clinch the game. "I think we got to bowl on a good wicket. The new ball swung around a bit but after that it didn't do much. We were always thinking about bowling a good line and length.
"They were batting well but sometimes we didn't bowl that well. I think that is the reason we couldn't win," he said. Asked if being the defending champions has created pressure on Mumbai, Malinga said, "Not much. We don't think about what happened in the IPL or CLT20 2011."
"We just think about one game at a time. We don't have any pressure of being defending champions on our mind. We just want to play one game at a time," he added.u00a0
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