`Lead of 300 would be satisfying’

NEW DELHI, FEB 5: At the end of the first day's play, Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin looked crestfallen. The batsmen had failed to co...

NEW DELHI, FEB 5: At the end of the first day’s play, Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin looked crestfallen. The batsmen had failed to consolidate on the good start. However, he was in a different mood at the close of the second day’s play, today.

“Our players didn’t bat well enough yesterday. But they have covered it up today by bowling exceedingly well,” he said at the end of the day’s play. He sure knows the ball is in India’s court and it is up to the host team to drive home the advantage. “We are in a position now from where we have to play well tomorrow to win the game,” Azhar said, looking confident.What would be the target he would like to set the Pakistan team to force victory?

“Well, looking at the state of the wicket, which has deteriorated over the last two days, a lead of around 300-350 should be satisfying,” he said. He feared that the ball may keep further low and stroke-making may become more difficult as the game progresses. “But at the moment, the game is moving in our favour,”he stressed.

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Speaking about the team’s stretegy in Pakistan’s first innings, the Indian skipper said, “To get them out quickly was our sole strategy.”

Azhar also praised the effort of new-find Sadagopan Ramesh. “He played well in the first innings but I would have been happier if he had scored a 100.”Regarding the inclusion of Harbhajan Singh in place of Sunil Joshi for the Delhi Test, Azhar said, “We missed an off-spinner in the Chennai Test.”Azhar sounded optimistic about the Indian bowlers (both pace and spin) doing a repeat act in Pakistan’s second innings.

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