Tendulkar attributes win to pre-match game plan

Sachin Tendulkar, man of the match in India's emphatic nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in a triangular series match in Harare on Sunday, said the win was a result of meticulous planning and its perfect execution.

"We stuck to our task... what we had planned the previous day, we put in practice. We had our basics right today which eventually bore fruit," the batsman, who scored a brilliant unbeaten 70, said.

Tendulkar admitted winning the toss was crucial, but said he did not want to "take away the credit from the bowlers" who performed very well.

Now that India had started their campaign on a winning note, Tendulkar said, they would look forward to their match with West Indies who were "good competitors".

"We would like to produce some good cricket and try and live up to the expectations of the audience," Tendulkar who received a cheque of $20,000 for his efforts, added.

Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly, who yet again failed with the bat today while claiming two Zimbabwe wickets, too admitted that winning the toss was vital.

"It was more damp than what we expected. We thought it would help us for the first 15-20 overs but the wicket continued to help us right through," Ganguly said of his decision to bowl first.

The skipper said he was satisfied with the overall performance of the team. "We held on to the catches and bowled well".

On the next match against West Indies, Ganguly said, "We take one game at a time."

Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak said it was hard for them to defend the "meagre total" when India seemed to have everything going in their favour.

The skipper praised the efforts of wicketkeeper Tetenda Taibu hailing him as "the future Zimbabwe wicket-keeper when Andy calls it a day".

After losing the first two matches of the series, Streak said, they were now left with the task of making the most of the remaining matches.