Hussain hails 'character' of match-winner Giles

England captain Nasser Hussain heaped praise on Ashley Giles after the left-arm spinner's five quick wickets turned the fifth one-day international against India on its head on Thursday.

Giles had gone for 32 runs in his first four overs before returning with a dream second spell of 6-0-25-5 to take the match away from India almost single-handedly.

"Ashley bowled a great spell," Hussain told reporters after England's two-run win which means they can square the six-match series by winning the final game in Bombay on Sunday.

"It was a display of great character to come back the way he did."

But Hussain said he felt his side always had a chance after posting 271 for five from their allotted 50 overs having been asked to bat first.

"Getting runs on the board is the key in any one-day game. You always have a chance until the other side has got the runs," he said.

"Posting 270 runs on that wicket was a good score. We knew if we put India under pressure they might crack and let us through," he said.

India had been coasting at 211 for three with 10 overs to go thanks to a 111-run third-wicket stand between captain Saurav Ganguly, who struck 74, and 21-year-old Mohammad Kaif, who chipped in with 46 in his first one-day innings.

But once Ganguly fell trying to force the pace, wickets started to tumble as Giles ran through the middle order.

PLANNED RETURN

Hussain said Giles' introduction late in the innings had been planned.

"Ganguly was playing well and we were thinking he could go and hole out going after Giles. If he had hit him for a few sixes, the game could have got out of our hands but he got out and we came back into the match."

Ganguly had hit Giles over mid-wicket for three big sixes in his first spell and the Indian skipper felt his team had thrown the match away.

"We should have won it," Ganguly told reporters. "We lost four wickets in the space of 20 runs and lost the match."

Ganguly said he was disappointed his knock had gone in vain.

"Getting runs is great but they count only when you win. I was disappointed when I got out but I felt we should have still won it from there with 60 runs to get in 10 overs," he said.

He was followed back to the pavilion by Kaif, the other set batsman, but Ganguly praised the youngster.

"It was his first game, he did a great job. It's a tough game and pressure does funny things to the best of the best. You can't expect someone to be a champion in his first match."

India will get another chance to close out the series in the final game at Bombay on Sunday.

"We'll see how things go in Bombay," Ganguly said. "We want to win the series, not draw it."

Mail Cricket Editor