Melbourne, Feb 3 (IANS) India’s cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni commended his side for an exceptional fielding effort in the second Twenty20 International against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here Friday.
India won the match by eight wickets and levelled the two-match series after losing in Sydney Wednesday.
“The fielding was exceptional. It will be hard to beat this effort. We are a side that relies a lot on a good start, not about the runs, a good, calm start is what we look for. Overall it was a good effort by the bowlers and equally by the top three batsmen,” said Dhoni after the match.
The Indians looked tired and clueless in the field in the Test series which they lost 0-4. An injection of youth seems to have given a fresh vigour into the side. Ravindra Jadeja was adjudged Man of the Match for his exploits in the field.
Meanwhile, Australia captain George Bailey defended his decision to tinker with their winning side, saying that the focus was on the World Twenty20 in September.
“One of the things we wanted to get out of the week was trying a few different people in different spots,” Bailey said.
“Going forward Wade (Matthew) is going to have opportunities at the top and in the middle. Even tonight, I thought it was really pleasing that he showed what he can achieve it in both areas. That just gives us another option at different times. As much as trying to win, this week was as much about trying to find out what different people can do in different situations.”
Bailey though admitted that his side were out-fielded by an enthusiastic Indian side and said that the score in the end really did not project the true story as India cantered to a win.
“It wasn’t as close as it looked. Well short with the bat tonight. Four run-outs is the big difference. We were clearly out-fielded,” he said of Australia’s 131-run effort with the bat.
