We fell 25-run short, rues Dravid | Cricket - Hindustan Times
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We fell 25-run short, rues Dravid

PTI | By, Manchester
Aug 31, 2007 01:16 PM IST

"It was very disappointing to have lost like this," says an exasperated captain after India fail to level the series.

After a gilt-edged opportunity to level the series slipped through the fingers, an exasperated Team India captain Rahul Dravid said his side fell 25-run short in the fourth one-dayer against England.

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HT Image

Defending a total of 212, Indian bowlers did well to remove the top half of the English batting line-up for 95 and then reduce them to 114 for seven.

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But with Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara cobbling a record 99-run unbeaten stand for the eighth wicket, India lost by three-wickets and now trails 1-3 in the seven-match series.

"It was very disappointing to have lost like this. They were seven down at that stage and we were desperately looking for a wicket. We tried and mixed everything for that breakthrough but full credit to them (Broad and Bopara).

"In the end, we probably fell 25-run short in the match," a dejected Dravid said. Dravid, however, was happy that Ajit Agarkar, whose four-wicket haul brought India back into the match, did live upto the expectations at Old Trafford.

"I told him earlier that we need wickets up front and he did get us the wickets. It was just a matter of one wicket that we needed at that stage and things could have been different."

His opposite number Paul Collingwood said it was a cracker of a match and saw England's future in Broad and Bopara.

"It was an amazing game of cricket and it was perhaps best not to play but just watch it from outside.

"The situation was tense and it was quite difficult but both of them came off with flying colours. Of course we were disappointed to have lost seven wickets in the first 25 overs but to win from that position is a massive boost for us,"
Collingwood said.

And if there was one player who could do no wrong in the match, it was Stuart Broad who followed his career-best haul of 4-51 with a career-best knock of 45 not out in presence of his his father and former England player Chris.

"I guess this is the most important knock of my career so far. The team was in a difficult position but it's great to have helped the team win the match," the youngster said.

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