We have a good chance, says Chawla |
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Saturday April 12, 01:19 AM
Kanpur, April 11: With the low bounce and lack of pace — features that have been a characteristic of the Green Park over the last few years — it was the ideal opportunity for the 19-year-old Piyush Chawla, making a comeback into the side after two years.
Chawla had said on Thursday that he would bowl his heart out if included in the playing XI. True to his word, he did not disappoint on Friday, finishing with 2/66.
"It’s a great feeling to play my second Test after a long time and that too at my home ground. I’m more than satisfied at my performance, but would have liked a few more wickets," he said after the end of the day’s play.
"I’ll be happier if we win this Test, though," he added.
The local lad, who made it to the XI after Kumble failed a fitness test early morning, said it was a challenge to play without the ace leg-spinner leading the ranks. "Playing without Anil bhai was a challengeas when he is playing as he helps you while bowling. I had to focus on the good areas as the South Africans were looking to take me on."
Chawla felt the track was a slow-turner and India would have the edge while batting. "The track is slow and I think we will find it easier when batting. It was a great effort to bowl them out for 265 and the way our batsman has been playing we fancy ourselves tomorrow.
"We can now make a big score and can bowl them out cheaply in the second innings. The onus is on us," he said.
The youngster was quick to point out that the rival team had its share of problems with the attack too. "The track won’t help the seamers and the South Africans don’t have too many spinners."
For South African middle-order batsman Hashim Amla, however, the battle is far from over. "It’s not an easy wicket to bat on. We did lose too many wickets after a good start, But whether we have enough runs on the board will be known tomorrow when India come in to bat," Amla said.
"It had a lot more turn on the first day than any other wicket we have played on. So that is why the first innings total was important for us... whether it is good enough, we will know tomorrow," said the batsman, who struck a stroke-filled half-century. Amla said the wicket detoraited rapidly after the first session, and it was a conscious effort to play quickly.
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