KOLKATA, March 19: Indian batsman Rahul Dravid, who hit century in each innings of the second Test declined to make prediction as the teams go into Sunday’s last and final day of the game at the Eden Gardens.
“Fortunes have fluctuated greatly in this match and I don’t think anybody can make predictions on what is going to happen tomorrow,” said man who scored 110 in the first innings and 135 on Saturday becoming only the sixth Indian to get a century in each innings of a Test.
India set Pakistan a target of 422 runs to win the match and were able to pick up the wicket of Shahid Afridi by the close of fourth day’s play when the tourists had reached 95 for one.
“I always wanted to score a double in each innings of the Test and got my inspiration from Steve Waugh, I have thought of it in the past and it is good that I was able to do it for the second time.” Dravid first achieved the feat at Hamilton in 1998-99.
“My innings today was as good as the first but my knock today was more difficult, the pitch was playing slow,” he said and added that both innings however had their challenges.
“The conditions today were tough, it was hot and it became harder after lunch. It will be a challenge for both teams now.”
“We expected a little more turn when we bowled, the ball was not turning as much as we had wanted and was keeping low. But I think the ball will spin as it grows old.”
He praised Dinesh Kaarthick who hit up a career-best 93. “It was a pressure situation and he handled it all very well and batted with great confidence.”
Muhammad Sami, spearheading Pakistan’s pace attack in the absence of an injured Shoaib Akhtar said that bowling out a batsman as Dravid was always going to be tough. “We were trying to contain him as much as we could.”
“The loss of Afridi’s wicket is a blow but we are not out of the game, we will definitely try and win it,” said Sami who took 3-82 in the second innings.
