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द्रविड़ ने जीत का श्रेय गेंदबाजों को दिया

[Wednesday, September 20, 2006 09:03:27 pm ]

क्वालालंपुर (भाषा) : भारत के कप्तान राहुल द्रविड़ ने वेस्ट इंडीज के खिलाफ त्रिकोणीय वन डे सीरीज के अहम मैच में बुधवार को अपनी टीम की जीत का श्रेय अपने गेंदबाजों को दिया। भारत ने इस मैच में वेस्ट इंडीज को १६ रन से शिकस्त दी।

द्रविड़ ने कहा, ' इस जीत से हमारी टीम के हौसले बुलंद हुए हैं। अब हम ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ मैच में अपना सर्वश्रेष्ठ प्रदर्शन करेंगे। गेंद काफी स्विंग हुई। पहले वेस्ट इंडीज ने अच्छी गेंदबाजी की तो बाद में हमारे गेंदबाजों का सिक्का चला।'

भारत के १६२ रन के जवाब में वेस्ट इंडीज की टीम ४०.५ ओवर में १४६ रन पर सिमट गई। वेस्ट इंडीज की टीम इस मैच से पहले ही फाइनल में पहुंच चुकी है। भारत को फाइनल में पहुंचने के लिए आखिरी लीग मैच में ऑस्ट्रेलिया पर जीत दर्ज करनी होगी।

द्रविड़ ने कहा, 'सचिन और हरभजन को छोड़कर कोई भी अच्छी बल्लेबाजी नहीं कर पाया। हमने वेस्ट इंडीज के शुरुआती विकेट जल्दी चटकाने की रणनीति अपनाई, चूंकि हमें पता था कि लारा निचले क्रम पर उतर रहे हैं। एक बार दबाव में आने के बाद वेस्ट इंडीज टीम उससे जल्दी निकल नहीं पाती। इस जीत से हम टूर्नामेंट में अभी भी बने हुए हैं और ऑस्ट्रेलिया के खिलाफ पूरे आत्मविश्वास के साथ उतरेंगे।'

गेंद और बल्ले, दोनों से अपनी चमक दिखाने वाले 'मैन ऑफ द मैच' भारत के हरभजन सिंह ने अपनी ३७ रन की पारी के बारे में कहा, 'इन दिनों मैं अपनी बल्लेबाजी पर काफी मेहनत कर रहा हूं। मैं सोच कर उतरा था कि सचिन के साथ विकेट पर टिक कर खेलूंगा। पिच से गेंदबाजों को मदद मिल रही थी और इस पर सिर्फ सही लाइन और लेंग्थ पकड़ने की जरूरत थी, जो मैंने किया।'

वेस्ट इंडीज के कप्तान ब्रायन लारा ने कहा, 'इस हार का हमारी टीम के मनोबल पर कोई असर नहीं पड़ेगा। अभी फाइनल मैच से पहले हमारे पास तीन दिन का वक्त है और हम अपनी गलतियां सुधार लेंगे। हमें बल्लेबाजी पर अधिक मेहनत करनी होगी। हमारे गेंदबाजों खासकर ड्वेन स्मिथ और कोरे कोलिमोर ने बहुत अच्छी गेंदबाजी की। शुरुआत तो हमारे बल्लेबाजों ने भी अच्छी की थी, पर बाद में गैरजिम्मेदाराना तरीके से विकेट गंवाते चले गए।'

http://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2011420.cms

We believed in ourselves: Dravid

PTI, KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20: India's incredible win over West Indies in the tri-series today was not by any coincidence but the result of a well planned strategy, skipper Rahul Dravid revealed.

Although the Indians were bowled out for a paltry 162 in 39.3 overs, they still believed that they could win the match, Dravid said after India kept their hopes of a final berth alive with a 16-run victory over the West Indies.

"It was not a coincidence. We did believe that we could win this one. We talked about it in the break," Dravid said.

"We knew that the West Indies batting has been struggling except for Lara who comes out to bat in the middle. So we thought if we could pick a few early wickets, we would stand a chance of winning.

"It was always going to be a tall order but we believed in ourselves," the stylish right-hander added. Dravid heaped praise on his bowlers who managed to defend the small total admirably.

"The bowlers put on a great performance, their bowling was exceptional today. All the bowlers - Munaf, Agarkar, R P, Sreesanth, Harbhajan - all of them bowled beautifully."

Dravid admitted that the batting left a lot to be desired but said some thought ought to be given to the fact that they were playing their first full game in almost two months.

"We did not bat to our potential. But one must keep in mind that we haven't played for the last two months, to come back and win in this fashion is good."

Dravid also said that the win should stand the team in good stead against their crucial league match against Australia on Friday.

"This win is a big fillip. (If we had not won this one) it would have been difficult to beat Australia with bonus points. If we play well against Australia, we can give them a run for their money."

West Indies skipper Brian Lara said some of his team mmebers were lacking confidence but they should get things right in the three days' break before the final on September 24.

"We bowled pretty well and we started pretty well too. We needed guys to hang in there and show responsibility but unfortunately that did not happen. We have three days to get things right," he said.

"Some of our guys are lacking confidence. But guys like Marlon Samuels have to remember that they have done it before. It is just a matter of gaining that confidence back as quickly as possible."

Man of the match Harbhajan Singh said he had worked hard on his batting and that was the reason why he was able to stitch a crucial 78-run partnership with Sachin Tendulkar.

"I have worked very hard on my batting. Today I was just trying to stay with Sachin," said the Punjab player who made 37 and also took 3 wickets.

As for his bowling, Harbhajan said he was just trying to bowl a good line and length as the wicket was giving a bit of help to spinners. Tendulkar, declared Air Sahara High Flier of the match, said it had been "hard work" to bat this morning.

"It has been good so far in this tournament. I missed out on an opportunity to score against Australia. Today it was hard work. I was just trying to be patient and be there till the end."

Asked what advice he gave to his partner Harbhajan, Tendulkar said, "I know Harbhajan cam strike the ball well. I told him if there is a ball in his slot, he should strike it or else try to show the full face of the bat."

The star batsman also praised the bowlers for bringing the team back into the game by their performance. "The bowlers bowled well today, they hit on target. It was good bowling backed by good fielding. They brought us back into the game quite nicely. We will now try to put our best performance against Australia," he added.

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/triseriesarticleshow/2011309.cms