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Ganguly happy with win
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly understandably gave a lot of credit to his bowlers for his team's 23-run win over England.
- Indo-Asian News Service
- Updated: February 25, 2007 09:08 AM IST
Read Time:3 min
London:
Indian captain Sourav Ganguly understandably gave a lot of credit to his bowlers for his team's 23-run win over England in the final one-day game of the NatWest Challenge. However, the skipper still sported a big crease on his forehead when talking about his batsmen. "Our bowlers were outstanding, especially in the first 10 overs," said Ganguly. "But batsmen still are a long way from running into good form." Form eludes batsmen Indian bowlers defended a low score of 204 runs but in the batting, despite Ganguly's 90, vice-captain Rahul Dravid's 52 and a load of changes and reshuffles, nobody else remotely came close to running into form. "We are not batting well and it is fair to say I didn't back ourselves when we came into the middle. But the bowlers were outstanding," the skipper held. Ganguly said he had pushed Virender Sehwag down the order because of his constant failures and moved VVS Laxman up because of the latter's past experience. "Sometimes it is better to shift somebody around if he is not in the best of nick. I had spoken to them about the impending shuffle," he said. Ganguly said the shuffle should not imply this is going to be the trend in the Champions Trophy, which starts on September 10. Pleased with efforts The Indian captain was pleased with his Man-of-Match effort of 90 runs but still felt he got out at the wrong time. "I batted till the 40th over, so that way it was good. But still I got myself out at the wrong time," he said. Ganguly said he concentrated on building an innings, spending some time in the middle, and get himself into a decent feel before executing his customary big shots. "It was important I stayed at the wicket so I played straight and avoided shots square of the wickets," commented the Indian captain. The left-hander was convinced England is not the same side if their all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is not featuring in the eleven for them. "I have no doubt England without Flintoff is not the same side. He brings in a typical dash for the team in the middle," Ganguly added. Happy memories Ganguly admitted he carried some happy memories of the ground where he re-established himself in the Indian team in 1996 as well as the NatWest Trophy triumph of 2002. "The wicket was a lot slower and it's been always so at Lord's. The medium-pacers bowled beautifully and the spinners got a good purchase," he said. England captain Michael Vaughan credited Indian medium-pacers for their fine win and said they were difficult to get away in the first 10 overs. "They rarely bowled a bad ball and were quite accurate and penetrative," said Vaughan. The two teams now head into the Champions Trophy with engagements against two African sides - England meeting Zimbabwe at Edgbaston on September 10 and India taking on Kenya a day later at Southampton. (PTI)Topics mentioned in this article
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