Johannesburg: Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara today said that the board has enough runs on it to press for a win on the final day Sunday in the first cricket Test against South Africa here.
Chasing a huge 458 for a victory, the Proteas finished the fourth and penultimate day yesterday at 138 for two, still needing 320 runs for a win with eight wickets in hand. Injured Morne Morkel is most unlikely to bat when host resume their chase on Sunday.
"We are happy with the two wickets we have got and the way they have come. The conditions will be a little more difficult tomorrow. We have got enough runs on board. But it's important for us to get a few wickets in the first session so that we can capitalise later on," Pujara said at the press conference after the day's play.
"The wicket has variable bounce and we have seen cracks opening up. We are expecting that we will get more movement tomorrow from the ball that will hit the cracks. Even while I was batting in the morning I felt that the odd ball was going up and down," said Pujara.
Pujara scored 153 in the second innings to help India reach 421 all out and set up the stiff target for the world's number one Test side. He was run-out in first innings for 25.
"I was batting well in the first innings (when I was run out). I knew the start was important. Initially (in second innings), I was trying to look through the conditions as the ball was new and was doing a bit. I was patient and waited for the opportunity to accelerate.
"I was trying to play the ball as late as possible trying to watch the ball till it hit the bat so that whenever there was variable bounce, I could play accordingly. So, it was important to see through the new ball and then play my shorts," he said.
This was the fourth time in 16 Tests that Pujara has crossed the 150-run mark and he said every such big score only improved his concentration and technique.
