India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had asked for Murali Kartik in
the side and he was delighted when the left-arm spinner played a crucial role
in the team's eight-run victory over Australia here today.
"I wanted him (Kartik) in the team and backed him. He repayed my trust by
bowling very well," Dhoni said after winning the fourth cricket one-dayer
to keep the series open.
Kartik came into the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs in
place of off-spinner Ramesh Powar and sent down a valuable 10-over spell of
1-48 in the middle of the innings when Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds were
going great guns.
He also came on to bowl two overs at the death of the innings and did not let
the Aussies get away. Crucially, he gave only two runs in the 48th over when
the visitors seemed within striking distance of the target.
At one time it seemed that Australia would cruise to the target
but Dhoni, who was also full of praise for Harbhajan Singh, said wickets
pushed up the required run rate.
"The spinners bowled very well and got wickets to make
it tough for Australia," he said.
The wicketkeeper-batsman also praised the old opening firm
of Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar for laying the platform for the big score
of 291 for four.
"We were not chasing well so we decided to bat and started
well. The middle overs were also productive and there was momentum in the end,"
said Dhoni, who scored a 35-ball 50 and was adjudged man of the match.
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