Bangalore, Feb 28 (IANS) England captain Andrew Strauss, who won the man of the match award for his brilliant 158 in Sunday’s World Cup match against India, said Australian legendary leg spinner Shane Warne was a ‘genius’ to have said that the clash would end in a tie.
‘I think Warne is a genius to have predicted that way (a tie). What more can I say,’ a disappointed Strauss told reporters late Sunday, after the group B league match ended in a dramatic tie at the Chinnaswamy stadium in the heart of this technology hub.
Much before the match started, Warne wrote on his Twitter account: ‘Looking forward to the game between India and England today (Sunday) should be a cracker. My prediction a tie!’
Soon after the match ended in a tie indeed, Warne tweeted again: ‘Before u (you) think there was something untoward re prediction of a tie, thought it was going to be a cracker-tie was tongue in cheek-but right.’
Saying that his target-chasing 158 was his best knock so far in the one-day format, especially in a World Cup and against India on its home turf, Strauss said the team was quite disappointed to have not won a match they should have, as they were still in the race till the 42nd over.
‘I feel a little bit sad and a little bit happy. We got to celebrate the fact it is an unbelievable game of cricket. Some great performances were on both sides. Both sides should be partly happy, partly sad,’ Strauss said.
Excited over his own form and the way his team chased a huge target, the dashing opener said though they started very well and were very much in the game till the slog overs, the Indians made a very good use of the third power play to contain them and made it difficult for them to win the match in the end.
‘Their power play cost us badly. There is no doubt about it. Brilliant performances from both Graeme Swann and Ajmal Shahzad to have taken us to a win almost. But we didn’t play well during that power play though we have gained confidence in chasing big scores coming into this game after we chased over 290 in the previous tie with the Netherlands,’ Strauss admitted.
