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Rediff.com  » Sports » Sehwag satisfied with showing

Sehwag satisfied with showing

By Ashish Magotra in Mohali
March 10, 2005 19:31 IST
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Scoreboard

Virender Sehwag expressed disappointment at not completing a double hundred on day 3 in the first Test against Pakistan at Mohali on Thursday.

The dashing opener, who was out on 173 after registering his ninth century, was, however, happy with his batting.

"My idea was to play my natural game. You don't know which ball you will get out to, but, at the end of the day, I am pretty satisfied. It was a very good innings," he said.

The Delhi batsman, who scored his second hundred against Pakistan --  the first was a record-breaking 309 in Multan last year -- felt the first two hours on day four will be crucial and the Indian batsmen will have to go for quick runs.

"Our team is in a good position and we have enough runs to put Pakistan under pressure. Tomorrow our batsmen will be looking to score briskly," he said, adding the team is hoping to extend the lead to 250-300.

Talking about the wicket,  Sehwag, who hit 19 fours and two sixes in his essay, said it still looks good and is unlikely to break on day 4.

"If it breaks it will be good for us," he said, hastening to add, "but our bowlers will also face difficulty in getting the opposition out as the wicket has eased.

"It is definitely favouring the batsmen."

Asked why India's scoring rate dropped after his dismissal, he said it was not easy to score as the ball had got old.

He was hopeful of unbeaten batsmen VVS Laxman and Irfan Pathan piling on the runs on the fourth morning as "both are set and should give the team a better start tomorrow".

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Ashish Magotra in Mohali

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