da brdice： Debashis Mohanty, the almost forgotten seam bowler from Orissa, didn’tget the Man of the Match award – it went to Sachin Tendulkar – butthere is little doubt he was the toast of India’s win against the WestIndies in the fourth game of the
01-Jul-2001Debashis Mohanty, the almost forgotten seam bowler from Orissa, didn’tget the Man of the Match award – it went to Sachin Tendulkar – butthere is little doubt he was the toast of India’s win against the WestIndies in the fourth game of the triangular series yesterday.The genial bowler himself was modest in his hour of glory, saying allhe did was to put the ball in the right line and length. “I justconcentrated on making the batsmen play – and restrict them even fromscoring singles,” said Mohanty, whose 3 for 18 from 10 overs, are thebest bowling figures of the tournament so far.Mohanty, whose last game was the tour-opener against Zimbabwe A – agood one month before yesterday’s match – said he tries to do his bestwhenever given an opportunity. He didn’t want to go as far as tosuggest he would be an automatic choice in the eleven for the final.”It depends on how I do in the next game on Wednesday (against theWest Indies),” said Mohanty, a realistic assessment given the rareopportunities he gets to play.The other bowling hero for India, Harvinder Singh, was happy too forhis two for 25 in the game, including just two runs conceded in hisfinal and 50th over of the West Indian innings.Harvinder, who began his international career three seasons ago, washampered by back injury in recent times which forced him to alter hisaction completely – from a side on he is now a front on bowler. “I didit to avoid injury,” said Harvinder.Indian captain Saurav Ganguly was pleased with the win and saideverything went to plan. “It is good to see youngsters come andperform and I just hope the habit continues till the final,” saidGanguly.Ganguly, who looked in good nick yesterday, said he knew it was amatter of one innings which would get him going again. “After thatknock (of 85 runs) against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, I was moving prettynicely in my strokes in yesterday’s game.”Ganguly got a harsh decision from the umpire when the ball deviatedoff his thigh pads and went to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs when on 20.”Everything seems to be falling in place but for the umpire, it seems.Perhaps I now need to take umpires out for dinners,” he said in alighter vein.Most of the Indian team, minus a few seniors, today left for VictoriaFalls, a tourist attraction 350km north of Bulawayo. The team willplay its final league game of the tournament against the West Indieson July 4 at the Harare Sports Club. The final is scheduled at thesame venue on July 7.