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South Africa v India, 3rd Test, Cape Town, 4th day

Ganguly: 156 more won't be easy

PTI

January 5, 2007

Sourav Ganguly said that batting at No 4 was 'an opportunity to score big' © Getty Images

Sourav Ganguly has said India have a chance to win the third Test and clinch the series against South Africa because it won't be easy for them to achieve the target on the final day of the match.

"They have to get 156 runs which is not going to be easy. The ball is still new. It is easier to score off the new ball, but it is not so as the ball gets older. I think there is a game on," said Ganguly. "The pitch is very dry, the driest I have seen overseas. There are a lot of areas for [Anil] Kumble to bowl to left-handers and [Graeme] Smith might have that in back of his mind," he said. "Now it is important to play and not think about winning or losing."

On the slow scoring-rate, Ganguly denied the Indians were too defensive and played for a draw. "There was no such planning. Paul Harris was bowling outside the leg stump and Shaun Pollock also bowled well. So one could not hit on the up and we lost two or three wickets."

Ganguly said the sudden call to go out to bat after Sachin Tendulkar was not allowed to bat at No 4 did not affect his mindset. "I just walked down. There was no time to think much. Sometimes it helps. In this series I have often batted with the lower order. I got a chance to bat up the order. It was an opportunity to score big."

Asked if he felt as if he had a point to prove and if he was looking to play in India's upcoming one-day series and World Cup, Ganguly said he did not have to prove any point to anybody. "Of course I am looking forward to the one-dayers and World Cup. I am not here to give any answer to anybody. I believed I still was good enough and that's the reason why I played domestic cricket. There was always a chance to come back."

© PTI