Sachin, Laxman ruined Ponting's dream

Bangalore, Oct 13 (UNI) Australian captain Ricky Ponting today said he was excited last night about an 'impending' Aussie win but it could not happen as his team could not create enough opportunities with the ball.

Speaking to reporters here after the match, he said it was a pretty good game of Test cricket. ''I had thought we had a real good contest on our hands today. We also took early wickets but Sachin and Laxman got together and we couldn't just break this partnership in time,'' he said.

He said his team had started the day positively and aggressively and got a few extra runs.

''No. We had to bat today and we though we will need these extra runs. Then we gave our best shot with the ball. But we did not create enough opportunities today,'' he felt.

Ponting argued that Australia had dominated over the Indians from the opening day morning.

''We had our nose in front of the game and unfortunately we have not been quite good enough to win it. But it is really a good start for us in the series,'' he said.

He agreed that Australia not breaking the Harbhajan-Zaheer partnership that brought India back into the game was a turning point.

''Yes in the course of the game that's been one of the big turning points. Till then we were long way ahead in the game. The lower order put on runs and our lead went from being around 180-200 to just 70 as it was,'' he explained.

He said this partnership had indeed given some momentum to the Indian team but Australia had summed things up in the second innings and got them back into a winning position. But unfortunately they did not create enough chances to force a win.

Asked whether Australia missed a quality spinner, Ponting said, ''Yes probably. A quality spinner might have made things a little different today. We've got a couple of days to recover from this game now and hope to play hard cricket in Mohali as well,'' he said.

Ponting was happy that the Bangalore Test gave enough feel of the hard cricket that one has to play in India. ''It's been a pretty good game for all those guys. Haddin's batting was terrific, Watson's bowled very well for us in the first innings and he batted well in the second innings.

''Cameron didn't have much of an opportunity to bat, but I think he's coming along in leaps and bounds with his bowling. There was a lot of talk about our inexperience coming here and I think these guys have done a pretty good job for us. They will be better off after this for sure,'' he added.

He refused to comment on some umpiring decision that came under scanner.

''I'm not going to comment on the umpiring. The umpires are really doing the best just as we are as players,'' he said.

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