We bowled well, turn for batsmen to score big: Ojha

The inexperienced Indian bowling attack clicked at a crucial time and it is now the turn of the batsmen to post a big total and put Sri Lanka under pressure in the third cricket Test at Colombo on Wednesday, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha said.

"I think it is one of the best days for the bowling group. Because the way we planned, we executed and it has been a very disciplined attack by us," said Ojha, who took four wickets to help India bowled out Sri Lanka for 425 on the second day.

"We planned it out and we were like very strict on things like we should not be trying too many things. We will be sticking to our basics," he said at the press conference after the day's play.

He said the P Sara Oval has something for the bowlers but felt the strong Indian batting line up will post a big total to put pressure on the Sri Lankans.

"We should be giving credit to the batsmen. The way we are batting, if we continue to play like this we will put up some good score on the board and put them under pressure," he said.

"There is something on the wicket especially when spinners were bowling. You have seen when Ajantha Mendis was bowling one odd ball was kicking. Even for Suraj Randiv it was the doing the same. But if we apply ourselves the way Thilan Samaraweera did, I think our batsmen will get runs," he added.

Ojha said Virender Sehwag would be the key man for India to score big and Sri Lanka could have to rue for dropping him while on 52.

"I think it (dropped catch) is definitely vital when it is about Virender Sehwag. We have seen in the past the way he gets runs and the way he got runs today. I think it is very crucial," he said.

"We did not give any loose runs to the Sri Lankans. That was important. The wicket was helping a bit. So I just tried to stick to the basics. Just tried to bowl in right areas and let things happen," he added.

Asked about the difference between SSC, the venue of the second Test which turned out to be a graveyard for bowlers, and today's pitch, he said, "In SSC, few good balls were gone for boundaries. Some deliveries in which we could have got wickets, it did not happen.

"But here it was doing something for the spinners as well as for the medium pacers for the first couple of hours. I think it was more penetrative," he said.