Bengaluru, Oct. 9: After the first day of the second Test, Australia would have rued a few missed opportunities to impose themselves on the Indians. The hosts too would be feeling the same.
The Indian dressing room would have heaved a sigh of relief after having dismissed rival skipper Ricky Ponting against the run of play after the elegant right-hander has set himself up for a big score.
Virender Sehwag, however, was satisfied that his team restricted Australia to 285/5. “We are very happy with the day’s score. The way they started we thought they would end up with 300 or 350 on Day One. But 285/5 is good total for us especially after Suresh Raina got Ponting’s wicket. Had Ponting stayed till the end he would have scored quickly, but after his dismissal they got defensive,” said Sehwag.
Sehwag believed the pitch, deprived of sunshine due to overcast conditions, will get better as the match progresses. “It’s slow, the ball is not coming onto the bat. Maybe on the third and fourth day the wicket will be drier and the batting would be better,” Sehwag said.
Meanwhile, Shane Watson, who shared a 99-run opening wicket stand with Simon Katich, was annoyed that the batsmen failed to capitalise on starts. “No doubt it was disappointing that no one got a hundred today because it is a good wicket. We are hoping to get some more partnerships on Saturday morning,” Watson said.
Watson, who has scored a hundred and two fifties in three innings so far, was pleased with his form. “I feel more comfortable out there and have understood the conditions. A little bit of time-off also helped refresh the mind,” Watson said.