Dhoni salutes bowlers

vIndianz.com (19 Feb, 2010) — Kolkata: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Thursday doffed his to his lion-hearted bowlers for scripting the home team’s dramatic series-levelling win over South Africa in the second Test in Kolkata on Thursday.

dhoni Dhoni said getting seven South African wickets in the final session of the opening day tilted the game in his team’s favour and even though the side missed Zaheer Khan — who had strained a leg muscle — Thursday, the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra shouldered the extra burden and delivered the goods.

“The bowlers were really great. The wicket did nothing on the first day. It was not a turner as such but Mishy (Mishra) and Bhajji (Harbhajan) bowled really well,” Dhoni said after India beat

South Africa to level the series and retain their number one Test team’s status.

“Today we didn’t have Zaheer and the bowlers bowled really well. We had lost one day’s play and Thursday we did not have Zaheer. We desperately wanted to be on the winning side because of the amount of effort that the three bowlers put on the last day,” he said.

“Mishra bowled really well. It was good to see Ishant (Sharma) bowling with rhythm and pace and bowling in right areas. Bhajji too was brilliant. There is so much pressure on him ever since Anil Kumble retired. Every time he walks out, people expect him to get 3-4 wickets,” Dhoni said.

The last South African pair of Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel made India wait agonisingly for over 20 overs before Harbhajan, who rediscovered himself in his happy hunting ground with eight crucial wickets, removed the Morkel to trigger off euphoria across the Eden Gardens.

Harbhajan said with time running out, he had his heart in his mouth.

“The heart was pumping. I’m very happy. Today we bowled with just three bowlers but we have done the job. Eden has been special to me. I don’t know what it is but I have done well here always,” he said. “We wanted to remain at the top of the table. We know we got the players and the team to remain the number one side,” said the offie.

Sachin Tendulkar also cherished the moment and saluted the bowlers for their never-say-die spirit.

“It was a good Test and good to see the scoreboard saying that we remain the No. 1 Test team,” said the batsman who notched up his 47th Test ton in this match.

“Our seamers did a decent job on day one. But it was Harbhajan’s three wickets in the final session that made a lot of difference and then Zaheer claimed a couple. They set up a good platform for us,” he said.

“No match is over till the last ball is bowled. I knew it was just a matter of getting enough

bowl in the right areas. After all we needed just one wicket,” Tendulkar said.

Outstanding Amla

Even though India won the match, Amla was the standout performer for South Africa as he nearly saved the match with his epic unbeaten 123.

“I’m tired and disappointed we lost the match,” said a weary Amla whose more-than-eight-hour vigil went in vain.

“Me and Morne were just having some fun out there. He played really well and so did (Wayne) Parnell earlier. Fortunately, Morne and Parnell are decent batsmen and took lots of pressure of me,” said the right-hander, who got centuries in both the innings to bag the man of the match award.

“I am being just grateful that I have had a good tour. Unfortunately we lost. It was a very good wicket and we could have saved it. There wasn’t’ anything unplayable from the wicket,” said Amla, who was also adjudged man of the series for scoring 490 runs in the two-match series.

The Proteas skipper Graeme Smith felt his team should have batted better in the first essay and held their catches.

“We should have batted better in the first innings. We then came and dropped a few catches. The pitch (here) was still good,” he said.

Lavishing praise on Amla, he said, “He has been outstanding through the series. He is become our glue at number three. I don’t think any of us have seen him play better. He has a calm mind and has been working very hard. Great to see it coming together for me.”

Happy to trouble India in their den

His side lost the battle for No. 1 Test spot with India with their innings defeat in the second match in Kolkata but Smith on Thursday said they were proud to have troubled the home side in their own backyard in the drawn series.

“The fact that we could draw a series in India is a credit for our players. If you see the recent records of the teams that have toured here, not many teams have been able to push India like we have done in these conditions. That’s the positive for us more than anything else,” Smith told reporters after his side lost by an innings and 57 runs.

“Obviously, we are disappointed for not taking the series but a lot of positives have come out of the two Tests. We have come to India twice recently and have played five Tests and we have not lost a series here. We have to look when India come to South Africa at the end of the year in South African conditions we will take it from there,” he added.

Smith rued that his side failed to capitalise from a good position at tea on day one but conceded that India grabbed with both hands the opportunities that came their way.

“After winning the first Test and come here we had the opportunity on day one at tea. At 200 for two we had the upper hand. We just got into situation where we lost quick wickets and the guys coming may be lacking a bit of confidence. Once we fell behind, India took the control. We know in the subcontinent it’s very difficult to play catch-up cricket,” he said.

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