Despite being one of the lead characters in scripting the win with knocks of 109 and 45 not out, Pandey was modest in crediting the success to ``team effort.''

``Our medium-pacers bowled well and gave the initiative. The fielding too was good and everyone gave off their best. Besides, the urge to win was quite pronounced,'' he added.

Coach Venkat Sunderam pointed to the 174-run stand between Pandey and Shamshad which tilted the game in UP's favour. The former Delhi opener complimented the attitude of the Mumbai team for their determined approach towards the closing stages of the game. ``Their attitude was remarkable despite being five runs short of losing the game. It is something our boys should inculcate.''

Mumbai skipper Amol Muzumdar said Mumbai lost initiative in the firstsession of the opening day. ``Thereafter, we were always struggling to make a comeback. Moreover, we didn't have any big partnerships other than the one between Jatin (Paranjape) and myself.''

The saving grace, according to Muzumdar, ``was the manner in which we fought till the very end.''

The absence of the big guns -- Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli and Sanjay Manjrekar -- was not lost out on the Mumbai coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu while dwelling upon his team's shocking ouster from the event. ``We felt their absence but then it was also a good experience for the other batsmen. This match showed the chasm that exists between the stars and the others. It was a good lesson for them and maybe they would be an improved lot next season,'' he reasoned.