http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s favour
Rahul Dravid, prolific middle order batsman for India, is hopeful that the first Test of the two-match series would end in some result. Rahul is expecting a result in favour of India with his hopes contingent upon the spin attack of his side.
"I see good chances of a result. It should be a good contest between bat and the ball", said Dravid at the close of day three in the five day match at Mohali.
37 year old Dravid, who scored 77 runs in the first innings of India at Mohali, insisted that the home side has not let the chance slip out of its hands saying that the Men in Blue still have a firm control over the match with their spinners in action.
With the match entering into the second last day, the game is still evenly balanced as the home side conceded a petite lead of 23 runs against Ponting’s men after being bowled out for 405 in reply to Australia’s 428.
Rahul believes that the spin attack of India, being led by Harbhajan Singh, would turn the opener of the two-match series in their favour. While talking to media men after the third day, Dravid opined that the wicket is good and is expected to crack a little
bit, favouring the spinners.
"The wicket is good. There are rough areas, however, from where an odd ball rises. We expect the wicket to crack a little bit and the two quality spinners - Harbhajan and Ojha - should be able to exploit the conditions tomorrow".
Indian guns were roaring magnificently at one stage but a disappointing batting collapse scratched its chances of scripting a lead. But Dravid, former wicket keeper of India, insisted that the game is still in their hand and noting has gone wrong as such.
"I wouldn't say we let the game slip out of our hands, but you've got to give credit to the Australian bowlers the way they bowled in the last session. The game is still evenly poised and I think if we can restrict them to 250-260, it should be comfortable
for us".
Dravid was expecting a nail biting clash in the morning session of the fourth day calling it a crucial period for both sides. Dravid said that whosoever performed well in the initial two hours of the fourth day would be in advantageous position.
In reply to Australia’s 428-all out, the home side started its first innings reasonably well with its top and middle order posting some solid individual and partnership performances. Four of the Indian batsmen managed to score half centuries with prolific
Tendulkar top scoring at 98 followed by Suresh Raina’s 128-ball 86.
Both Raina and Tendulkar shared a crucial 144-run stand for the fifth wicket partnership that helped India cross 400 in its first innings.
Dravid was pretty much satisfied with his performance against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 series at the end of July.
Talking about India’s strategy for the morning session, Rahul Dravid said that they need to pick up some quick wickets restricting the Kangaroos to as less runs as they can so that they could build a pressure on the tourists.
"The Test is poised well. Tomorrow's first session is going to be quite crucial for us. We will need to take some quick wickets and restrict them for as less runs as we can so that we can put them under pressure. Obviously, if they bat well then they can
put us on the back foot", Dravid said.
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