13 March,2011 07:28 AM IST | | Sai Mohan
Even as Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel leaked runs towards the latter half of South Africa's run-chase, India captain M S Dhoni said that his side was 40 runs short during Saturday's riveting contest here at Jamtha. India failed to defend 297, despite having South Africa at 173-3 - with the latter requiring 124 runs off 86 deliveries - an equation that favoured the hosts. With South Africa requiring 13 runs off the last over, Dhoni chose Nehra over Harbhajan Singh - a decision which he didn't regret. "Ashish (Nehra) has been our best bowler in the last two years, especially in the powerplay periods.
"I had full faith in him to get the job done, he needed this sort of an experience in the World Cup, and I don't regret the decision.
"Such things happen in cricket. We will only get stronger from this experience. It's a constant learning process, we are taking the positives from this game, we are ready for bigger challenges," he told reporters after the game.
Dhoni said that the difference between the sides was the athleticism: "This is one of the bigger grounds in the country ufffd they tested our fielders with their running between the wickets, and their fielding was outstanding."
