A B de Villiers is a freak man: Harshal Patel

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Press Trust of India Bangalore
Last Updated : May 05 2014 | 10:45 AM IST
A witness to A B de Villiers' exploits from close quarters against Sunrisers Hyderabad, young Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Harshal Patel termed his South African team-mate as a "freak man" who is difficult to bowl at.
De Villiers produced one of the most devastating Twenty20 innings as he smashed an unbeaten 89 from just 42 balls to single-handedly power RCB to a sensational four-wicket victory over the Hyderabad outfit last night.
RCB needed 28 runs runs off last two overs and de Villiers came into the act and hammered Steyn for 24 runs in the 19th over with three scintillating sixes and a four, which turned the tables against Hyderabad, leaving the home side just four runs to score in the last over bowled by Irfan Pathan.
"What do I say! AB is a freak, man. What he can do on the cricket field, I don't think anyone else can do that. I have no words to describe his brilliance," said Patel, who was at the other end batting with de Villiers in the final over.
"I think he is the most difficult batsman to bowl to. To good batsmen, if you bowl decent yorkers or good deliveries, you can get away. But to AB, if you bowl a perfect yorker, you can still go for six. You are never sure where to bowl to him. You can only bowl and hope for the best," he told IPL's official website.
Patel, who returned with figures of 1/29 from his four overs yesterday, said he didn't feel the pressure while coming out to bat in the final over after Mitchell Starc's dismissal.
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First Published: May 05 2014 | 10:45 AM IST