Yuvraj says six sixes was payback

By Telford Vice

DURBAN, South Africa (Reuters) - India's Yuvraj Singh said the six sixes he hit in an over at a Twenty20 World Cup match against England on Wednesday was payback for five scored against him at the Oval earlier this month.

Yuvraj scored his perfect 36 off Stuart Broad in the 19th over to boost India to a total of 218 for four from their 20 overs. India won by 18 runs after England replied with 200 for six.

Yuvraj said his feat was revenge for the five plundered by England's Dimitri Mascarenhas off his bowling in the sixth one-day international in London two weeks ago.

"After those five sixes I had so many phone calls, and nobody calls me when I make a hundred," Yuvraj told a news conference.

"I had 100, 150 calls from people making fun of me. I was like, 'God, this is not right, you've got to give it back to me'. I guess he gave it to me today."

Yuvraj hinted that the comments he traded with England's Andrew Flintoff before the fateful over on Wednesday might have been a factor in what happened next.

"When you get a few words from someone it charges you up and you want to give it back with the bat," Yuvraj said.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni joked that he might use that tactic to bring the best out of Yuvraj.