Important win for KKR: Ganguly

Hyderabad, May 11 (UNI) The 23-run victory over Deccan Chargers is an important win for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Skipper Saurav Ganguy said today.

Expressing happiness over the performance of the team, Ganguly, however, said he was not yet thinking of the semi-final stage right now.

The away match win at Hyderabad was important as it had proved that the yougsters could play under pressure. Though the total was comfortable but it was not an easy win as the Chargers had good strike bowlers R P Singh, Chaminda Vaas and Styris, he said. Rueing the departure of Australian players who had been called for the national side, Ganguly said his team was the most affected (by the loss of Australian players). However, he was confident that Sohaib Aktar, who was still in the dressing room would help boost the side's bowling.

He praised Venugopal Rao for his innings and said he had the ability to do better in international matches.

Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist, who was disappointed over the side's loss, conceded that they had lost the grip over the match by giving away 100 runs in the crucial last six overs. There was good individul performance. The team as a whole was yet to perform, he said.

''The team is 75 per cent right and will work together to overcome the 25 per cent defect in the future matches,'' he added.

UNI DB/SM AM DB2245