260 should be a good score

Against the trend of preparing batting friendly wickets for a one day international,Dhiraj Parsana the curator at the Sardar Patel stadium...

Against the trend of preparing batting friendly wickets for a one day international,Dhiraj Parsana the curator at the Sardar Patel stadium in Ahmedabad for the third and final ODI between India and South Africa said that the Motera pitch will have something in it for the bowlers. Unlike the feather-beds in Jaipur and Gwalior,the curator said that 250-260 runs will be a defendable total.

I expect it to be a good one-day wicket though I can give you a clearer picture only tomorrow as the process of preparing it is still on. Theres not going to be much grass and a score of 250-260 would be a good total, Parsana said.

Dew is expected to play a significant role in the inconsequential contest as the series has already been won 2-0 by the hosts. Over the last two days the dew fall has been quite heavy because of clear skies and little wind. If its windy it drives away the dew. But we are prepared to counter it with the use of chemicals on the outfield from 7 pm on match day. We will stop watering the outfield from today, he added.

India piled on 401 runs on Wednesday in Gwalior after Sachin Tendulkars record breaking double century,but their record at Motera isnt as good as they would like it to be. India have lost six matches and won five at this venue which has hosted 17 ODIs.

India have not won a match at this venue since vanquishing the West Indies by five wickets in November 2002. They have lost all their last three matches here,all after batting first. Pakistan beat India by three wickets in April 2005,then

Sri Lanka emerged victorious by five wickets in November 2005 and on the last occasion West Indies edged out the hosts by three wickets during the ICC Champions Trophy clash in October 2006.