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 Ahmedabad, Oct 12: Indian captain Sourav Ganguly today backed his bowlers and blamed the placid Motera track for his side's failure to force a win against New Zealand in the first cricket Test here. India, who had set a victory target of 370, failed to dismiss New Zealand in their second innings despite more than three sessions of play as the Kiwis came up with a determined batting effort to salvage a draw on the fifth and final day.
"The bowlers did pretty well on a placid track. There was no turn to help the bowlers to pick wickets," Ganguly told reporters after the match. The Indian captain was also full of praise for debutant pacer L Balaji who could manage only one wicket in the match. "For a debutant, he bowled magnificently on a dead wicket which hardly had any movement in the air. It was a lion-hearted performance by the youngster."
Ganguly also dismissed the suggestion that his side was under pressure after failing to win the Test, seen as a grudge match after India's abject humiliation at the hands of the Kiwis in the two-Test away series late last year. The second and final Test will be played at Mohali from Thursday. "We are under no pressure absolutely. The Mohali wicket is totally different and it always helps the seamers," he said. "Now our aim is to play well at Mohali and win the series." (Agencies)
Published: Sunday, October 12, 2003
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