He is fast becoming the England cricket team's most bankable saviour in crisis situations and after playing out yet another gritty knock that helped his team get an upper-hand against India, batsman Paul Collingwood said patience was the key to his success.England ended the third day on 172 for three, a lead of 247 runs with seven second innings wickets in hand, and Collingwood, not out on 60, felt he has made amends of his first essay flop show of just nine runs."Honestly, I was disappointed with my first innings score. In the second innings also the ball did a bit early in my innings but I was able to settle down and then runs came," Collingwood said after the third day's play."It was about sticking to a plan and not thinking of doing so many things. The Indian pacers were swinging the ball both ways and it was difficult to play. In such wickets you have play late and I did just that," added Collingwood who came in when his side was tottering at 43 for three.He said he and Strauss, who is unbeaten on 73, would try to stretch the unbroken 129-run fourth wicket partnership and press for a win on Sunday."In the first innings our middle order playing slam bang but it is important to build partnerships. We are looking to stretch the partnership tomorrow."Asked whether he felt Harbhajan Singh has been neutralised by the England batsman, Collingwood did not offer a direct answer and said, "It is about sticking to plans. Play the ball late and let the ball come to you and that is how we played Harbhajan."On Strauss, who made a century in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 73 on Saturday, Collingwood said, "The way he was playing whether on front foot or back foot he is doing all the things right."
