Home > Cricket > England's tour of India > Report
Harbhajan delighted with showing
Harish Kotian in New Delhi |
March 28, 2006 20:12 IST
Last Updated: March 28, 2006 20:47 IST
Harbhajan Singh [Images] was a relieved man after claiming the career-best haul of five for 31 to lead India to a 39-run win over England [Images] in the first one-day international.
"I am happy after getting five wickets today. It was an important match, the first match of the series. We took our catches, bowled well on a good line and length," the off-spinner told reporters after Tuesday's match in Delhi.
Harbhajan said he did not try anything different and was just concentrating on bowling a good line and length on a typical Kotla pitch.
"It became slower and lower as the match went on. I didn't try anything different. Just wanted to bowl as well as I have been doing. I knew at some stage the results would come and it did today.
"I would like to thank the team management, the coach and all the players and everyone who supported me in tough times," the 25-year-old said.
He thanked his Punjab team mate Yuvraj Singh [Images] for giving him good support from the other end and taking 2 for 32 in his 10 overs.
"Yuvraj bowled really well and gave me good support. It was nice to see Yuvraj taking that responsibility and bowling so well," he said.
It was not only Harbhajan's bowling that set up the game for India, but he made a useful contribution with the bat too. He was the highest scorer in the Indian line-up with 37 runs, which helped India edge to 203.
"I had played a very bad shot in the last Test at Mumbai. So here I just wanted to play till the last ball. I had to bat with (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni at that stage. Rahul (Dravid) and Greg (Chappell) told me to rotate strike, not play shots and look to play straight, which I did. I am happy with the way I batted today.
"We have been working hard on our batting in the nets. We are working on every aspect of our game and trying to improve," he added.
The off-spinner also had some words of wisdom for the English batsmen, a few of whom perished while trying for the sweep shot.
"Obviously, the sweep shot gives you the option to get leg before and bowled if they are not playing the right length. It is a very risky shot, especially on the wicket like this when the ball is keeping low. If I was the batsman I would not play that shot," he said.