Bengaluru, Feb 27: Indian captain M S Dhoni spoke to the media after the nerve racking contest against England, the first – and perhaps only – tie of the 2011edition of the ICC World Cup.

Excerpts from the interview

On whether he was happy with the tie

Well you know the way [England] were going, [they] got off to a very good start. I think Andrew [Strauss] batted really well and there was a time where it seemed as if they will chase the score in 48 or 49 overs. So at the end of the day [we’re] happy with the tie because I think it may reflect in the points table as a win.

On what he thought was the most worrisome stage of the game

Well, you know I think the [Strauss and Bell] partnership just two wickets down and the way both the batsmen were batting, it was getting pretty difficult for the bowlers [until] Zak [Zaheer Khan] came in and bowled a real good spell and brought us back into the game. Otherwise this game would have been wrapped by 48 overs.

On Zaheer Khan’s spell that brought India back into the game and lifted the crowd

Well, of course and that’s what I always say, you know, he is a different bowler if you look to work around his bowling. But if you look to get after him, he comes up with a brilliant spell that [gets] the batsmen out especially in the ODI format. So it always good to have him and it was good to have three or four over of his by the end [of the game].

On whether he thought 338 was a good score

I think so because if 338 [runs] is not enough then every game we will have to look to score maybe 350 or 360 odd runs[we] played the first game it was a different bowling attack. The wicket was different. But if every time if we have to score 350 or 360 odd runs, there will come a time in the tournament when it will get tough for you.

On the fall of wickets at the end of the Indian innings

Well, you know, it happens. I think the wicket was quite flat in the second innings [as] compared to the first innings. It was coming nicely on to the bat but still with 340 odd runs on the board their batsman batted really well. In the end the lower-order batsmen contributed a bit. [Graeme] Swann and [Tim] Bresnan and one more [player], [Ajmal] Shazad, I think, got a brilliant six to start off. I think it was a good contribution from the [England] lower order.

On the scope for improvement in the fielding and bowling departments

I don’t think we can improve the fielding very much because we have got quite a few slow fielders in the side. But as far as the bowling department is concerned, we have got the talent to improve, so hopefully in the coming games we will improve a lot.