I was confident of winning: Collingwood by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	PD Collingwood, RJ Sidebottom, MS Dhoni
Event:	ICC World Twenty20 2009

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DateLine: 15th June 2009

 

England T20 skipper Paul Collingwood was confident of his side's victory when the Indian batting headed to face the final three overs needing 39 to win.

 

The skipper said that though India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and fellow big-hitter Yusuf Pathan were batting at that time but since he had his pace trio to bowl the final three, he was pretty confident they would get the side through.

 

"Once the last three overs came down, I knew I had my three big men to bowl and I was pretty confident from that point," he said. "I know what these guys can do and the skills they have got and I have a lot of belief in them as captain.

 

"The pressure comes into it but I know they are very steady when it comes down to that pressure."

 

He also spoke about England's next game and said that since his side would be back on the ground soon, they could cash in on the feel good factor.

 

"There are only 18 hours before we are back on the field again, this will be fresh in our memories, and hopefully we can use the feel good factor.

 

"It has been a little bit of a rollercoaster ride all the way through this tournament, a bit up and down, but we have to keep going for it because we are not going to win this tournament if we are complacent.

 

"I said beforehand that if we won four games we would win the World Cup. Now we have brought it down to three."

 

Left-armer Sidebottom was elated with his two early strikes which pushed India on the backfoot early in their chase.

 

"It was a great team effort," Sidebottom said. "It's a great feeling to have all the boys around you, celebrating together, and I will remember that for a long time."

 

Collingwood also said that since Kevin Pietersen's Achilles injury has not healed properly, which has put his participation in Ashes under doubt, they would not risk him and that the doctors are keeping a close watch on the premier batsman.

 

"We will not risk him. Simple as that. The medical staff is keeping a very close eye on him. He's ticking all the right boxes, his rehab is going very well and he is improving all the time.

 

"Of course he will be checked again tomorrow but I am sure he will be fine," Collingwood added.

 

India skipper MS Dhoni on the other hand apologised to his country for the team's early exit. The defending champions, courtesy this loss, have failed to reach even the semi-final stage.

 

"I am very disappointed, frankly speaking," he said. "I don't think we have any excuse, our performance was not up to the mark, and hopefully it was a good learning lesson for us.

 

"We made a few mistakes, to keep them to 153 meant we did a brilliant job.

 

"We understand fans are upset but we can say that we are more upset than them, although we understand their emotion," he added.