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Ganguly savours series-levelling win
Wisden CricInfo staff - August 25, 2001
KANDY (Reuters) Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has said positive thinking was the key to India's series-levelling seven wicket win over Sri Lanka.
"After the third day, we said let's forget about any pressure. We are not going to lose, let's just treat it like any other test innings," Ganguly said.
Ganguly was delighted with his return to form after hitting an unbeaten 98 to lead his side to their victory target of 264. It was his first Test 50 in 14 innings and he said: "It (his loss of form) was a little more upsetting because I was the captain of the side. But I was trying my best. I think it is one of my better Test knocks because it helped India win."
Asked how he felt after missing out on his eighth Test hundred when Mohammad Kaif hit the winning four, he said: "I am disappointed, but had he not scored they would probably have bowled a wide," said Ganguly, who was named man of the match. "It doesn't matter. A hundred is just a landmark. What you play for is the team to do well and that's all that matters," added Ganguly, who also picked up two wickets in the Sri Lankan first innings.
Ganguly went on to praise the bowling of medium-pacers Zaheer Khan and Venkatesh Prasad, who both took seven wickets in the game. "I am really happy for Prasad," he said of the 32-year-old who has largely been ignored in the last two seasons. "He showed lot of character. We now have a good crop of fast bowlers which will help us when we play abroad," he said, referring to India's upcoming South African test tour in October.
© Wisden CricInfo Ltd
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