Mumbai, Feb 26: Akshay Darekar claimed a five-for to help Maharashtra pull off a thrilling win against Mumbai in the Inter-state one-day match against Mumbai at the Wankhede stadium today. With Mumbai requiring 16 runs, the left-arm spinner claimed the last two wickets in the penultimate over to help the visitors win and qualify for the Vijay Hazare trophy starting on March 5.

In the post-match media interaction, Darekar spoke about the match and the crucial over he bowled.

Excerpts:

On winning the match

It was good for us because we are through to the next round; [we have] qualified for the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

On bowling the penultimate over where he claimed the last two wickets to pull off a win

I had planned to bowl in good areas. I knew the batsman would try to hit me long so I just varied my line and length and I got my wickets. The wickets were important because only two overs were left [at the death]. [I had to consider] which batsman was set, whom I had to bowl to and how. We bowled according to plan and we got our wickets.

On the over bowled just before his going for just one run

It made feel that the match was now almost ours; I knew that I too should concede few runs and I knew that if I tried I would get a wicket, so I did that. It made a lot of difference to the match also.

On Mumbai having pulled off last-over wins in their previous three games

Yes, we had discussed this. They have been winning close matches. [...] Others might have given them a chance to come back and win the match, but we had [decided] that we wouldn’t give them that chance, that we would fight them as much as we could. We controlled the match and won.

On the secret behind their success

We were patient. We had told ourselves that we wouldn’t panic even if the match reaches a run-a-ball scenario; be patient and there will be a moment when the match will turn in our favour. We were prepared for all scenarios: [that they would have] more balls and [need] fewer runs [to win] as well as this situation where they would have more runs to score off fewer balls. We held our nerve and played according to plan.

On whether they felt they would lose the match

We never felt that we would lose the match. We knew we would win, that we wouldn’t give up and pull through. We had confidence in ourselves and backed each other to make it through.