Another featherbed for the fourth ODI at Gwalior

Gwalior, Nov 14 (UNI) After two consecutive high scoring games, the pitch for the fourth one-dayer between Indian and Pakistan here tomorrow is also expected to be a featherbed with the curator claiming that the strip will not deteriorate in the second innings.

Traditionally, the pitch at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here has been a batting paradise and this time may not be different. It has little grass and whatever they are there are not at the bowling area which has taken darkish tinge over the brown surface.

Chief curator Samundar Singh Chauhan said the 22-yard strip was a 280-plus wicket and winning toss would not have much effect on both teams except for the dew factor in the second innings.

''I have made a typical one-day pitch. Spectators want high scoring matches, so I have made such a pitch,'' Chauhan said.

''It will not deteriorate in the second half and so who wins or loses toss will not have much difference,'' he added.

In order to minimise the dew factor, Chauhan said they were using spray from yesterday like the groundsmen at Mohali had done.

This venue has been a happy a hunting ground for India who are leading the five-match series 2-1. They have won six of the eight games which they had played here since 1988, the last time being the easy 37-run win against Australia in the TVS Cup in October 2003. In that match, Sachin Tendulkar had scored a hundred.

Sourav Ganguly, in the only match he had played here in 1999, had also scored a majestic 153 against New Zealand which India had won.

Both the teams have never played against each other before at this stadium though Pakistan have also won their only match here against Sri Lanka in the Independence Cup 2007 when they notched up 289 runs -- the highest run scored at this ground.

In the four day-night matches played so far at this venue (the first match during 1996 World Cup), teams who batted first after winning toss have won thrice and lost one.

In the eight of the ten ODIs played here by different countries, the team batting first has scored over 250 although the ground is yet to have its first 300-plus total.

The two teams, which had reached here yesterday from Lucknow, did not have nets this morning and decided to remain indoors.

UNI