It was a well written script: Dhoni

Cardiff : Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Thursday termed India’s eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the Champions Trophy semifinal as a well-written script.

Dhoni hardly put a foot wrong right from winning the toss and opting to bowl first.

“I think it is a well-written script, good toss to win, started well by the bowler, unfortunately for Sri Lanka they lost Dilshan. We capitalised on that, then the bowlers bowled well, especially the spinners. I think it is important to have good bowlers in the side. The ball was still doing a bit,” said Dhoni.

Asked why he decided to bowl four overs of medium pace, Dhoni said: “Bhuvnesh had already bowled 8 or 9, we wanted to keep some of the fast bowlers’ overs for the death, so with Karthik around I think might as well give it a go. I thought even if it goes badly, I’ll bowl one over. It went okay so I bowled another.”

Dhoni rated India’s opponent in the final, England, as a good side.

“England are a very good side, and we have played a lot against them in the last couple of years,” he said.

Man of the Match Ishant Sharma (3/33) lauded his fellow pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav.

“My strength is the bounce, I stick to my strength. I think up front Umesh and Bhuvi bowled really well. I think the conditions were really favourable here, in the previous games the wickets were quite flat,” he said.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said losing the toss proved crucial.

“The toss was crucial, we would have also bowled if we won the toss. The ball was seaming around, swinging around, the pitch was two-paced, our batsmen found it difficult. But credit should go the Indians,” he said.