Southampton, Sept 6: England’s ODI skipper Alastair Cook led his team to a thumping seven-wicket win over India in the rain-reduced 23-over a side match at The Rose Bowl.

His unbeaten 63-ball 80 also earned him the Man-of-the-Match award in the second ODI of the five-match series.

In a post-match media interview, the delighted Cook spoke about the victory. Excerpts:

On the day

Really good day, we got [to play]. [It was] one good effort to get [the ground] ready and all the people who hung around and patiently and waited a few hours got a great game of cricket.

On chasing 188 runs to win

A decent score but that wicket was pretty much a belter to bat on. That was fantastic; we thought that was par score. We played well. Craig [Keiswetter] at the top of the order really left us to milk it to get that.

On when he realised the wicket was a belter given that he had asked India to bat expecting the ball would move

Everything said it would move around having a day under the covers and a green tinge to it, but it was a great wicket. When the bowlers first arrived it wasn’t doing anything; [the ball was] skidding on to the bat nicely, especially under the lights. So it was just a matter of hanging in there and [it was] quite frantic but it was a total we had to get.

On Graeme Swann

He is a world-class bowler, he is No. 1 in the world and he proved it. On a non-turning wicket to take wickets with the white ball as well, he did a great job for us.

On the improvement in the fielding from the first game

These conditions to field [are] incredibly hard and of course there are going to be mistakes, but there are also stunning bits as well. So all in all, a good day in the field.

On proving the critics wrong with rapidly improving one-day performances

It’s not about proving [anyone] wrong, it’s about winning games of cricket for England. I am very proud of the team today and we managed to do that.

On Eoin Morgan’s absence due to injury and the replacement picked for him

It gives Ravi [Bopara] a great chance if Morgan doesn’t make it.

On the opportunities available to young players to book a place in the squad

Yes, we’ve got a really good squad full of talented players and an opportunity to nail down a place.