James Taylor in action during the Perth ODI against India.
© AP
Perth: Ecstatic to have scored in a pressure situation, England batsman James Taylor on Friday said he derived a lot of satisfaction after his side pulled off a win against India from a tricky position to secure a place in the ODI tri-series final.(Match Report)
Chasing a modest target of 201, England were tottering at 66 for five at one stage but staged a gritty fightback through Taylor (82) and Jos Buttler (67), as their stand steered the team to a three-wicket win with 19 balls to spare.(Highlights | Scorecard)
"I'm delighted to make a score in a pressure situation, that's what I pride myself on, finishing games and winning games. The way I was playing until 60-odd for five, I was struggling myself. But I managed to get through that and work the ball around. I know my game extremely well now. I wasn't playing my best cricket but I did a job and that's what I do," Taylor said at the post-match press conference.(Ganguly Angry With Jadeja)
"It's not the prettiest but I like to think it's effective a lot of the time," he said.
England now take on hosts Australia during Sunday's final, which will also be held here.
Taylor admitted that England did not play their best cricket today but showed some real character.
"This isn't everything but enough to be going on with for a start," said Taylor. "In a perfect world it wouldn't have got that tight. Sixty for five isn't ideal but we showed some real character. It's a great result for us.
"We definitely didn't play our best cricket with the bat but in a tough situation we showed the character to get through it and win the game."
Taylor, who came in at No. 3, put on a 125-run stand for the sixth wicket with Buttler, marking a great turn-around for the English team ahead of the upcoming World Cup, starting on February 14.
Talking about his partnership with Buttler, he added, "We complimented each other nicely. I plink the ball everywhere. Jos timed the ball nicely to the boundary. As soon as Jos came in, he took the pressure off me. He played his natural game and struck the ball as well as anybody. He stuck his hand up and won the game for us. That's what we need people to do, stick their hands up and win games for England."
England will face Australia in their World Cup opener also, in Melbourne on February 14. And Taylor said Sunday's final would be a big opportunity for his team to go one-up against the Aussies.
"Sunday is a massive game for us. It is a big opportunity. Australia will be very tough on this pitch because they have some good bowlers who have been in form recently. But if we can win that match then that will be a big statement for us going into the World Cup," Taylor signed off.
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