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Total looked enough: Gilchrist

Source: Sportal - February 4, 2005

Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said that he and his teammates never doubted for one moment that their score of 237 in the first VB Series final against Pakistan at the MCG on Friday was defendable.

While acknowledging that the Australian tally was below standard, Gilchrist said he believed that Pakistan - who finished on 9-219 - would always struggle to overhaul the hosts.

At 3-190 in the 39th over, Australia had been heading for a score in the mid-to-high 200s but lost 7-47 in the last ten overs.

"We were under pressure early with the bat. They bowled really well on a wicket the just offered enough so we went into a mode of trying to not lose too many wickets early - and we did," Gilchrist said.

"They restricted us a little bit shy of what we would've liked, but the guys were pretty pumped up and the executed some plans they we had spoken a lot about, very well."

Gilchrist said the early wickets the Australians were looking for came freely thanks to Brett Lee who bowled consistently in the 150-kph range in claiming 3-23, and the metronomic Glenn McGrath, who claimed his 300th ODI scalp in his 200th ODI en route to figures of 3-34.

They and Jason Gillespie (2-47) exploited the conditions brilliantly.

"I would describe the wicket as a 'tired' wicket. It's never really going to come onto the bat well and it's always going to be a bit slower and lower and more difficult to score," Gilchrist said.

Deputising at the post-match media conference for skipper Ricky Ponting who was having stitches inserted into a cut on his knee sustained while fielding, Gilchrist said it was encouraging that the Australians were winning without managing to hit top form.

"Ricky has said all along, and I think we all agree, that we haven't quite clicked and gelled in, but we've still managed to scrape through and we're now one-nil up in a best-of-three finals," he said.

A Cricket Australia spokesman described Ponting's injury as 'minor' and said it would not keep the skipper from leading the team in Sunday's second final at the SCG.