For Australia captain Ricky Ponting, it was more relief than delight after winning the first One-Day International against India in Vadodara, on Sunday.
Australia looked heading for a comfortable victory after reducing India to 201 for seven in the 40th over.
Many from the crowd started making their way out but suddenly hurried back to the stands as Harbhajan Singh (49 from 31 deliveries) and Praveen Kumar (40 from 32) attempted the impossible. But, in the end, Australia proved why they are the undisputed champions in the 50-over format.
Ponting was clearly annoyed with his bowlers for letting India get so close. Only Peter Siddle was spared his wrath. That's because he gave away just four runs in the final over, with India needing nine for victory.
"I was happy with the fact that we won. We played well enough to win the game. I would have been disappointed if we hadn't crossed the line after having largely played well through the course of the game. I think it will be a good learning curve for a few of the guys," Ponting said after Sunday's match in Vadodara.
It was he who set up Australia's mammoth 292 for eight with a fluent innings of 74 from 85 deliveries, while Michael Hussey smashed 73 from 54 at the end. He believes India were lucky that Australia finished inside the 300-run mark after looking good for nearly 320 runs at one stage.
"At one stage we thought we might score more than 292, but a few wickets slowed us down. Michael Hussey played an outstanding innings and the others too did well. Tim Paine and Cameron White played well. Of course, there is room for improvement before game two," he added.
Ponting said despite Harbhajan and Kumar's dazzling strokeplay towards the end he was always confident that his team would emerge triumphant.
"Harbhajan didn't take the game away from us though he did come close. I think our bowling in the last ten overs, I mean I don't think that we can get that bad again. Yeah, it was bad!"
He went on to shower rich praise on fast bowler and ICC Emerging Player of the Year Siddle for coming up with an excellent last over.
"I knew it will be an entertaining [last] over. Of course, things were in their [India's] favour in that last over after they scored 20 in the earlier over, but a couple of good balls helped us and Siddle was calm and composed and it will help him in the long run."
Ponting said preparation for the game was not hundred per cent with some of the guys joining the team late after being involved in the Champions League Twenty20. He warned that now that the team is together it would come up with more improved performances.
"The fact that some of our players joined us last night and the day before after the Champions League did hinder our preparations and team tactics. Three of the guys got in last night after half past eight and we took the team bus to the ground at seven in the morning; that hardly gave us any time to discuss, and that makes this victory all the more special," he said.
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