Townsville, Aug 26: Smit Patel was involved in an unbroken match-winning partnership with Unmukt Chand that helped India win the 2012 ICC Under-19 World Cup. The wicketkeeper-batsman has been a consistent performer for the team, chipping in with valuable runs and building useful partnerships. Coming in to bat when India were four down for 97, Patel scored a crucial 62 not out off 84 balls to see his side home.

In a brief chat with the media soon after hitting the winning runs, Patel spoke about his innings and his partnership with his captain, Unmukt Chand.

Excerpts:

On what he was discussing with the skipper

When I got in to bat my captain appreciated me straightaway after the second the ball I knocked. I had missed the first ball. I was a little tentative in the beginning [but] he just appreciated me and gave me confidence and I got going.

On what they discussed in the middle during their 130-run stand

We talked about sticking to the basics as our coach has told us. He has told us that whenever you are under pressure, in a pressure situation or when you get nervous, then you just stick to the basics and you will be able to get going.

On Chand’s batting

He is a fluent batsman. He has a go at the bowler whenever he wants to. It was awesome batting with him. We have done it before in the quadrangular series here [earlier in the year]. We had an over 100-run partnership against England. So we had the confidence that if we batted together till the end, we will do it.