Rajkot: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that had he and Suresh Raina been there at the crease for a few more overs, things could have been different in the ODI match which India lost by nine runs at Rajkot on Friday.

Dhoni said that at one point of a time things looked easy in the middle. “It was difficult but we should have got there. It was close to 280 or 290 [with the quick outfield] rather than looking at it as 320-odd. Maybe I should have batted a few more overs,” said the skipper adding that the spinners did a good job.

“There was a situation in the middle when it looked they would have scored 340, spinners got us back. It is a new batch of bowlers, not experienced in international cricket. You have to make sure someone bats at one end and others rotate around him. I won't sound arrogant but it seemed easy when I and Raina were in, with five fielders in the circle. But once we fell, it was difficult,” said Dhoni.

England skipper Alastair Cook said that it was a good toss to win and that they made the most of the wicket. “It was a good toss to win. It was a very good wicket and we made the most of it. I am proud of the side. Samit and Craig at the end made a difference. It was an excellent wicket throughout and a quick outfield too helped. It is hard to defend with five men in the circle. India kept getting close, but we got the wickets when it mattered. Tredwell bowled brilliantly. It is pretty much the same attack we had here in 2011. Good to see how we have learned from the experience," said Cook.

Man-of-the-match James Tredwell said that wickets at the right time helped England win the match, “You try and hit your skills over and over again. If the batsman hits a good shot, so be it. We got wickets at the right time, even at the lower end. It is what helped us get over the line. New fielding rules give you an opportunity to play against the spin, sometimes it can play into your hands."