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Very good chance of winning the match: Sehwag - Scorecard
Chennai, Oct 15: Virender Sehwag, who hit a valuable 155 in India's first innings, today said his team had a very good chance of leveling the series and a 150-run lead could help achieve that goal. "If we bat well tomorrow, we can add another 100 and a lead of 150-200 will be good when Australia bat the second time. We have a good chance to win this match and level the series," he told reporters after day two of the match.
Rating his century as one of the best, he said "it's a good hundred, especially considering that it came against the world champions." The Delhi opener admitted that his recent string of poor scores had started playing on his mind. "It was a bit tough as I had not scored too many runs coming into this Test. But I knew it was only a matter of time before I found my form. I was determined to hit a hundred in Bangalore also, but unfortunately I was out early."
Asked if he came into this match with any different game plan, he said, "no, there was no particular game plan. The idea was to see off their first spell, which they normally bowl very well. I did not try to curb my natural game. In Test cricket you have more time to analyse how you should play." Sehwag also said the track was good to bat on. "The old ball kept low because it became very soft but hardly any delivery kept low when they bowled with the new ball."
Describing his knock, he said, "I planned to get quick runs hoping that it would help the team, but perhaps my shot selection was not very good. Then I realised I should try to spend more time at the wicket which would help the later batsmen. "The more we made the Australian bowlers toil in the heat, it was better for us. I do not spare the bad balls, however many times I have been dismissed because of that. I believe punishing the bad ball is good cricket." Asked to comment on Shane Warne's performance, he said it was not Warne but Jason Gillespie who was the best bowler on show today.
"Warne did not bowl as well as he could but the fact is that he took wickets and also achieved the feat for highest wickets in the world." (Our Correspondent)
Published: Friday, October 15, 2004
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