London, Sept 11: India’s vice-captain Suresh Raina was named joint Man-of-the-Match with England’s Ravi Bopara in the fourth ODI at Lord’s which ended in a tie under the Duckworth/Lewis method. Raina scored a blustery 84 runs and was involved in a 169-run partnership with skipper MS Dhoni to propel India to a score of 280 after being put in to bat.

The southpaw was upbeat about the team’s performance as he spoke to the media in a post-match interview.

Excerpts:

On the situation in the field towards the end with the match poised for an exciting finish

It’s always disappointing when you know that the rain is going to come but we had a chat in between. We decided we had to field really well because when you are defending 280 [you’ve got to be sharp in the field]. [Ravi] Bopara was batting really well so we knew they had a batting Powerplay also. [We] just [had to] make sure that we stopped the singles, kept them [under] pressure. I think it worked out; they batted really well.

On whether things like Graeme Swann walking around as a stalling tactic were to be taken in the spirit of the situation

Everything is fair and fine; sometimes you tend to do things [to affect what is] normally not in your control. Munaf [Patel] did his best and got him [Graeme Swann] run out; and you know the result now.

On his innings and whether he had redeemed himself as a batsman

I knew I was hitting the ball well; I haven’t spent much time [in the middle] so I though this is the time I have to play till the end. MS [Dhoni] and I had a good partnership. I knew whenever I [got] the loose ball, I would play my shot, that’s my game. I know when I get the ball in my areas, I have to play my shot. We had our best batting Powerplay in the last one-and-a-half years. We didn’t lose a wicket in the batting Powerplay so hopefully we will do well in Cardiff also.

On whether there were any concerns in the bowling department

We took wickets with the new ball. RP [Singh] bowled well, in between we created good pressure. But rain in between was very disappointing for us but you can’t help it. You can’t fight nature so we have to accept it. [Ravi] Bopara batted well.

On Parthiv Patel’s fitness status; he was replaced by Manoy Tiwary on the field

He is fine. Manoj has been outstanding, he took brilliant catches in the West Indies when he played a couple of games there and Parthiv is hitting the ball well also. Hopefully he will be fine before the Cardiff game.