PESHAWAR, March 19: Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly on Friday accepted his side had been "outplayed by a better Pakistani side" in the third One-day International at Arbab Stadium in Peshawar.

Pakistan's victory gave them a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series. "It was a good toss to win," said Ganguly, who scored 39 in a losing cause for India. "But there are no excuses, they just played better than us on the day."

Ganguly lamented India's inability to exert a period of sustained pressure on Pakistan's batting. "They were 65-4 at one stage before Inzamamul Haq and Yasir Hameed had a good partnership," he said. "We would have hoped to pick up a wicket there.

"But then Abdul Razzaq played very well under pressure and probably swung the game Pakistan's way. "We've got a few guys injured but that's the way it goes. We play a lot of cricket so injuries are going to happen.

"But we have to keep on going ahead and the youngsters have to step up and deliver," said Indian skipper. The fourth and fifth ODIs will be played on Sunday and Wednesday at Qadhafi Stadium in Lahore. -PPI