Lack of fifth bowler cost match: Kemp

Chennai, June 10 (UNI) Africa XI Captain Justin Kemp today said the team let the match slip after pinning Asia XI at 72-5, as the team lacked a fifth bowler.

''I was injured. Our team had no experienced players. Two of our top bowlers were injured'', Kemp, the hard hitting batsman who himself made a scintillating 86, said after Africa XI lost the third match in the series to go down 0-3 in the series.

Kemp said the wicket at the M A Chidambaram stadium was ''fantastic''. ''This has been one of the best One Day wickets I have played on. Six hundred runs could be scored on a single day'', he observed.

Asked if he found it difficult to find his touch as he had often been struggling to switch his batting style from Tests to ODIs, Kemp said '' I didn't find the transition difficult. Yes, I have struggled a bit in Test matches to play my natural style of big hitting''.

''The situation dictates the style of play. I adapted well today'', Kemp added.

Answering a question, Kemp hailed the Indian Cricket Board for choosing Graham Ford, his countryman, as the coach for Team India here yesterday.

'' Ford is a fantastic coach. I played under him for Kent. He helped me a lot,'' he said.

Rejoicing Asia XI's triumph in the series, Captain Mahela Jayawardane and Dhoni, who steered the team to a splendid win with a record 218 run stand for the sixth wicket said '' We were not aiming at a big score. But after being down 72-5, we were happy to have made over 300.'' Dhoni however refused to compare his 139 not out in this match to his previous ODI hundred. '' I have already said that I don't believe in comparisons'', he observed.

Dhoni and Mahela said the wicket was fantastic to bat on despite the fact that it was used yesterday. Dhoni also refused to answer a question on the choice of Graham Ford as the new coach.

''You must ask the Cricket Board about it'', he added.

Jayawardane said Asia XI had done well to win the series 3-0.

''Our team batted and bowled very well.'' Asked if he had spotted any upcoming talent in the series, he said while Asia XI had some experienced players, for Africa XI young Zimbabwe player Elton Chigumbura was a future talent.

UNI