We are aiming to give India 300 to chase in 4th innings: Kaneria

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) Stating that the first Test is evenly poised, Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria said 300 would be the target which he and his team-mates would give India to chase for a win in the fourth innings.

''If we give them (India) a target of 290 to 300, then we can win the match,'' Kaneria told reporters after the end of the second day's play at the Feroz Shah Kotla here today.

''The wicket has become low and slow and will detoriorate as the match progresses. So batting last would be very difficult,'' he added.

Brushing aside the question of missing a partner-in-hand in the team's spin department, he lavished praise on the pace trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir and comeback man Mohammad Sami.

''I certainly don't feel the absence of a second spinner in the team. I have been getting due support from Shoaib bhai, Sohail Tanvir and Sami.

''They bowled pretty well and supported me when I needed,'' Kaneria said.

The 27-year-old wiry leg-spinner, who is the only second Indian-origin cricketer to feature in the Pakistan national team after former wicket-keeper Anil Dalpat, termed the Indian 'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar and ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's dismissal as crucial, which has turned the fate of the match.

''We wanted regular breakthroughs and we got it. But Sachin's dismissal was crucial.

Though Kaneria, who before the start of the series expressed his desire to scalp the prized wicket of Sachin, could not fulfil his dream this time, he gave his side the all important breakthrough by picking up Dhoni and ending his century-plus partnership with VVS Laxman.

''Dhoni played a superb innings together with Laxman. Getting his wicket was wonderful as it was very crucial at that juncture of the match.

''His wicket helped us to make another comeback in the match,'' he said.

Stating that the third and fourth day's play might decide the course of the match as the wicket has not yet shown any signs of breaking up, the spinner said, ''The wicket has not broken yet. The conditions in the first two days was misty and the sunshine was not strong enough to break it (wicket). But you never know what the pitch will behave in the last two days.'' ''Indian are very good players of spin bowling but I hope they falter,'' he added.

UNI