AB de Villiers reveals nerves after guiding Royal Challengers Bangalore into IPL final
AB DE VILLIERS revealed he overcame massive nerves to drag Royal Challengers Bangalore out of trouble and into the Indian Premier League final.
Having been put in to bat by RCB skipper Virat Kohli on his home ground, the Gujarat Lions powerful batting line-up was reduced to 9/3 as Iqbal Abdulla and Shane Watson blasted out Brendan McCullum, Aaron Finch and Suresh Raina.
However, they recovered thanks to an explosive 73 from 41 balls by Dwayne Smith in the middle order as the Lions battled to reach a total beyond Chris Gayle and company.
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The South African showed all of his experience to keep a cool head in pursuit of what was in reality a relatively low score.
He eventually found a willing partner in the shape of Stuart Binny, whose 21 was to prove crucial, but it was De Villiers' 79 from 47 balls with five sixes that swung the game.
"I was very, very nervous to be honest," De Villiers said.
"I know if I was at the end, we would be close.
"The one boundary just cleared the fielder and I saw the ball well from then.
"This crowd is the loudest I have heard in my life."