Elated at scoring a century on debut but disappointed with the batting collapse that followed his dismissal, South African opener Alviro Petersen on Sunday said his side will bounce back in the ongoing second Test against India in Kolkata.
"It is a special feeling, firstly making my Test debut and scoring a 100 at this fantastic venue. I am really happy. Yesterday, they told me that I am in the team 99 per cent. So I had an evening to really think it over, and visualise what I wanted to achieve out of it," Petersen, who was dismissed at exactly 100, said after the opening day's play on Sunday.
After a dramatic collapse in the final session of Day 1, South Africa might be struggling at 266 for nine but Petersen hoped that the Proteas would bounce back and their seamers will get some help from the track.
"We will definitely bounce back. We saw (Ishant) Sharma bowling a decent spell of short balls, and that was after 40 overs. The ball was still carrying through. So I would like to see our fast bowlers on that track," he said.
Petersen is the third South African - after Andrew Hudson and Jacques Rudolph - to score a century on debut at Eden Gardens.
Only Deepak Sodhan of India (vs Pakistan), Bruce Taylor of New Zealand (vs India), Mohammad Azharuddin (vs England) have centuries to their credit on debut at Eden Gardens.
"This morning, when I walked over the rope to play, it was a special feeling, a massive achievement. I was really determined when I put on the South African jersey to play. On my debut, it was just extra special to get a hundred," Petersen said.
After the early loss of skipper Graeme Smith, Petersen remained undeterred at the other end as he scored 100 and built a 209-run partnership with Hashim Amla (114) to lay the foundation for South Africa.
"I'd probably dedicate this century to myself for all the hard work I have put in the last couple of years.
"It's just the way it worked out. They were trying to get me out early and with that, maybe they offered me a couple of boundary balls and just got me started," said the 29-year-old.
"They were really coming at us, trying to get us out. In the process, they bowled a few loose balls."
Asked whether the ball was reverse-swinging after tea, he said, "I wasn't out there after tea, so it is difficult for me to say but I think it wasn't a normal Indian wicket where the ball gets scuffed quickly.
"There was a little bit of grass on it. So, even in the 40th over, the ball was still swinging normally. After tea, I am not sure," he said.
Petersen praised Indian pacer Zaheer Khan and said, "Zaheer was a class bowler. It was a good ball that got me out. Maybe I could have left it, but with the benefit of hindsight, that is the best thing. Having said that, that's also my scoring area."
