Dravid lauds Dhoni-Karthik duo, but says top order a concern

Dhaka, May 10 (UNI) Indian skipper Rahul Dravid today praised Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Karthick for their matured batting under difficult conditions, but expressed concern over the top order failing to fire yet again.

''The partnership between Dhoni and Karthik, I think it was a really special partnership we have seen today. The conditions were difficult and after fielding for 47 overs and Dhoni having kept wickets, while Dinesh having run around,'' Dravid said at the media conference after India completed a five-wicket win over Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

''Under those conditions, their batting was exceptional.

The way they controlled the innings, not taking many risks and at the same time rotating the strike. They kept the run rate within one or two hits away and when they needed the boundaries they got them,'' Dravid said.

Dhoni remained undefeated on 91 and added 107 runs during a sixth wicket stand with Karthick to lead India to victory after the visitors were sutruggling at one stage on 144/5.

On the top order coming a cropper, the Indian skipper said, ''We need to bat a little well at the top. We should not have lost as many wickets as we did, but I am quite happy and I am sure as the games go on, the top order will fire.'' Asked whether he found the victory satisfactory, Dravid said, ''Yes. But there are some areas we can get better at and do better at.'' However, he hastened to add that it was to his boys' credit that they got to the victory from a difficult position.

''To come from a position we were in and to win is a huge credit to the boys and the way they performed. As you said a win is a win and we will take it. It was a hard fought win, there were really tough conditions out there. We probably got the rough end of the conditions,'' he said.

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