Dhoni credits bowlers for win over Windies

Perth, March 6 (IANS) After beating the West Indies in a World Cup Pool B encounter at the WACA here on Friday, an elated Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni credited his bowlers for keeping the opposition batsmen on a tight leash.

The Indian bowlers were upto the mark from the very first over of the day, as they rarely hurled a bad delivery to the rival batsmen giving away just eight runs from the first five overs.

Mohammad Shami, later adjudged the Man-of-the-Match, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-35 from his eight overs. Pacer Umesh Yadav (2-42) and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-27) chipped in to take two wickets each, as the West Indies were bowled out for a paltry 182. 

India chased the total down with four wickets and 65 deliveries to spare. They registered fourth straight victory and qualified to the quarterfinals.

"It was a difficult wicket, even initially with the new ball. There was some variable bounce, it was doing a bit. It settled down later, there was some swing for the West Indies bowlers as well, with the new ball," Dhoni, who scored unbeaten 45 from 56 balls, said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

"Our bowlers didn't try too much. They stuck to their line and length. It (wicket) had a bit more bounce and we gave quite a few wides bowling bouncers. But we also got wickets with the short-pitched delivery, so overall very happy with our performance,” Dhoni added.

Dhoni added the target was a tricky one to chase down on such a dicy strip but said it was also a good chance to test out the middle-order.

“It is a difficult target, because you don't know whether to go and play your shots. It was a good chance to test out lower middle-order. Ashwin played well."

"Jadeja will have to step up and if he starts scoring runs, it will be a very difficult line-up to contain.”

Asked about the challenges they will face against Ireland and Zimbabwe when they travel to New Zealand, he said: ”The last time we were in New Zealand, there were true wickets. We'll have to see what kind of wickets are provided, but generally the ball comes on, there is some bounce."

"The grounds are small so that is one area where we will have to adjust," concluded the skipper.

India next play Ireland on March 10 in Hamilton, followed by their trip to Auckland where they play Zimbabwe on March 14.