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Ganguly lauds team's never-say-die spirit

Thomas Kutty Abraham

Captain Sourav Ganguly attributed India's sensational 325-run chase against West Indies on Friday to the team's newfound fighting spirit.

It was the second time in recent months that India had successfully chased a target of this magnitude after they scored 326 to beat England at Lord's in July in the final of a triangular one-day tournament also involving Sri Lanka.

"This is an indication of our new fighting spirit and of the fact that this team doesn't give up," Ganguly told reporters.

"We believe we can win whatever the situation and someone always stands up and delivers. At Lord's it was Yuvraj and Kaif and here Dravid and Bangar."

Vice-captain Rahul Dravid slammed 109 not out for his eighth one-day century and swung the game around in an unbroken 94-run stand with Sanjay Bangar, who struck a 41-ball 57.

The partnership was reminiscent of how Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh had rescued India at Lord's against England.

"Rahul played very well, he batted till the end. There was no way we could have won the game without him," Ganguly said.

"We were struggling a bit after we lost a few wickets in the middle but Bangar came up with a fantastic little cameo in the end and took the match away from West Indies's grasp."

BIG BOOST

The Indian skipper said the win was a huge boost for India for the remainder of the seven-match series, which is now tied 2-2 after four games.

"It was always a big challenge to chase such a big total and we did it pretty easily in the end with 14 balls to spare," he said. "It was important for us to win this game because we had to get back in the series. This gives us lots of confidence."

Bangar proved to be an unlikely hero after taking hours to score runs in the recent Test series, which India won 2-0, but Ganguly said he was not surprised at seeing him bat.

"I wasn't surprised at all," he said. "We have a selection policy that brings in the best around... everyone is capable."

The 30-year-old Bangar, whose maiden one-day half-century in his fifth match could not have come at a better time for India, said his aim now was to be more consistent.

"One can't cement a place in the team without performing consistently. When I went in to bat, I was quite confident I could win this match for India if I stayed focused."

There was no solace, however, for West Indies captain Carl Hooper, who had to face defeat even after Chris Gayle's 140 and Ramnaresh Sarwan's 99 not out propelled their total to 324.

"These things happen in the game of cricket," Hooper said. "We probably didn't bowl well enough but I would have thought 324 was a winning score."

Hooper said the flat wicket had helped India's cause but heaped praise on Dravid and Bangar who gave a special performance.

"Dravid was batting really well and once he got the support he needed in Bangar, they made the win possible. We just have to learn from this and try to get back into the series."

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