'Sehwag eased the pressure off me' - Dravid

Rahul Dravid said Virender Sehwag "eased the pressure off" him and helped India set up a match-winning total against Pakistan in India's series-levelling win at Abu Dhabi. Sehwag bounced back from his poor run with an 83-ball 73, inclusive of ten fours and a six, in a 138-run opening stand with his captain.

"Sehwag batted beautifuly today and it is good to see him back (among the runs)," Dravid said in the post-match press conference. "The key was to get runs at the top of order and Sehwag eased the pressure off me."

Dravid, opening the innings, hit a patient 92 while Sehwag broke his run drought with a cavalier innings that helped India put up 269 for 5. Dravid was quick to mention that India had looked to bounce back from a six-wicket defeat yesterday: "We learnt from our yesterday's mistake and it was a good all around performance by the boys. They responded well after the defeat."

Inzamam-ul Haq, his opposite number, conceded that the opening partnership of Sehwag and Dravid was the deciding factor in the match. "The opening partnership was very good and they batted very well today," he said. "Though it (the target) was chaseable we lost wickets at regular intervals and could not built parnerships."

India and Pakistan shared the DLF Cup. Proceeds from Tuesday's match were donated to the survivors of the massive earthquake that hit Kashmir last October killing more than 73,000 people in Pakistan and 1,300 in India. Revenue today's match would be be shared by the Indian and Pakistan cricket boards after USD 1 million would be donated to the hosts.