Third day crucial for deciding fate of match: Sourav

Kanpur, Apr 12(UNI) Former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguli today said tomorrow will be the crucial day of the third and final Test against South Africa.

Appreciating the batsmen for their contribution on a pitch which is supporting the bowlers, he said taking a lead of 23 runs could be the turning point of the game and if the last pair of Ishant and Sreesanth add another 50 runs tomorrow, then India gain an upper hand in the match.

Sourav, who was addressing the press after the match, said it was unfortunate that he missed his century by 13 runs but he claimed that his innings could be rated as one of the best of his career.

'' Tomorrow our bowlers have to do their work and take wickets as early as possible with minimum runs on the board as a lead of 200 runs by SA could be a great challenge for the hosts,'' he commented.

Saurav's statement that tomorrow will be the crucial day of the match was also supported by South African coach Micky Arthur who said either side will have a chance to win the game but tomorrow's performance would predict who might be the winner.

Arthur, while talking to mediapersons said that the two partnerships of over 50 runs by the Indian batsmen was the turning point of the game in favour of India on day two.

'' But still SA have a chance to recover and if our team takes a lead of 150 to 170 in the second innings then we can hope for 2-0 score,'' he said adding that India is only 2 to 3 per cent ahead of SA in the game now.

Reiterating that the Kanpur Test is being played on an under-prepared pitch, he said such things always happen when the host team tries to win back a match.

'' The pitch was made on India's choice and there is nothing wrong in it,'' he commented.

When asked if his players are facing some injury problems, Arthur said his bowlers have complained of cramps which are being taken care of.

''A long tour will certainly give such results'', he quipped.

To a poser as why spinner Harris was not able to take wickets, he said the boy is too inexperienced and it was his first tour of India.

On the other hand, Sourav said he played his natural game and he was not under any type of pressure while refusing to comment on the preparation of such type of pitches.

He only said it is very difficult to play on such a track as speedsters are more dangerous than spinners.

'' How can you face a ball in such track at the speed of 140 kms per hour,'' he questioned.

When he was asked to rate the captainship of Dhoni on his first Test, he said,''I cannot rate him.'' He also denied that any Indian player had thrown away his wicket.

UNI MB AB RN2020