18 April 2024 last updated at 15:13 GMT
 
Cook pleased with hard-fought win
Saturday 10 September 2011

England skipper Alastair Cook is pleased that his side handled the pressure well in the 3rd ODI against India at The Oval.

"It was pleasing the way we handled the pressure towards the end. A lot of credit goes to Ravi (Bopara) for the manner in which he played, backed up by Bresnan," said Cook, after his side won the game by three wickets.

Bopara and Tim Bresnan conjured a critical 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket after England were in doldrums at 133 for 5, chasing 218 from 43 overs to win.

"I thought Ravi played very well in a great little partnership with Bressy. But it was nerve-wracking! It's always nervy when you're sitting, watching and can't do anything about it."

"Morgan's absence allowed Ravi today to nail down a spot. He probably might not have been playing if Eoin was fit, so that's an encouraging sign."

Cook praised India's recovery but also felt his side could have done better when MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja were stitching together a 112-run partnership.

"They probably did get too many, if we're being really honest with ourselves. After that Powerplay, I think they got 70-80 runs off the last eight overs which in an ideal world they wouldn't do. But it was a fantastic partnership. At times you think you could've been more attacking to try to get that wicket."

"But we didn't create another chance (after the top five wickets fell). Even if we'd had slips in there for a little bit longer, nothing went through there."

Cook was particularly taken in by the performance of Jadeja and believed his side would come up with an answer by the time the fourth one-dayer is played at Lord's on Sunday.

"He probably hadn't played much cricket going into the game and was very fresh and raring to go. He played very well. We've obviously seen a little bit more of him now than we had. So we hope we can bowl a little better at him on Sunday."

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