MS Dhoni hails Ireland's fielding

Updated on: 07 March,2011 08:50 AM IST |
Agni Pandey |

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a relieved man yesterday. Although Ireland were a low rung side, the Indians were facing the heat on the eve of the Group B tie, thanks mainly to the chinks in their own armour.

But the five-wicket win over the giant-killers at the M Chinnaswamy stadium last evening has shifted a huge load off the captain and the players' shoulders.

"This win was needed desperately. Everybody is now free and happy," Dhoni told MiD DAY after the victory.
India bundled out the Irish for 207 and then knocked off the runs with four overs to spare. But it was not a stroll in the park as the scoreboard suggested.

"The target was 208 but it looked like we were chasing 240. Ireland bowled very well and their fielding was superb," Dhoni said.

The skipper was all praise for his bowlers and said the decision to field was for strategic reasons. "Our bowlers bowled pretty well. Every thing was went off perfectly," he said.

"We wanted to know how our batting line up does when asked to chase. And today we did well. Upto the seventh batsman, all have got runs."

Dhoni identified fielding as an area of improvement. "Yes, our fielders can do better than what they did in this match. They did show some improvement but our slower fielders remain slow as ever," he said.