Following a substantial 190-run deficit in the first innings, England staged a recovery in the second innings, posting 316 for six.This effort, led by Ollie Pope‘s unbeaten hundred, propelled them to a lead of 126 runs.”We are not looking at any particular target (to chase) as I said the objective is to come tomorrow morning and get early wickets and limit their total.
“We are not putting any pressure on ourselves by setting any target. We just want to bowl in the right areas to extract turn and bounce from the wicket,” Mhambrey said in his post-day press meet.
Mhambrey expressed confidence based on the manageable nature of the turn on the pitch, emphasising that it is not of the sharp variety and can be effectively countered.
“If you look at the way the game has progressed over the last few days from the first session, the amount of turn the ball has taken, I think it got better in the second innings. I think it is going to get a bit better on the slower side (tomorrow).
“There will be some turn but it is not the usual turn you see in the Indian sub-continental wickets, the sharp turn when the game progresses. There is a little turn but not as challenging,” he noted.
Mhambrey mentioned that the Indian bowlers were well aware of the ‘Bazball‘ tactics anticipated from the England batters, and they had prepared to confront it even before the commencement of this series.
“We knew prior to the series the way England played over the last couple of years and the kind of approach they had to Test cricket. We were expecting them to come here with that aggression and play those kinds of shots.
“But credit goes to them for playing those shots and some of the shots Pope played were very brave, and playing those shots consistently can put the opposition under pressure,” he elaborated.
The former India pacer also admitted that England batters, especially Pope, was brave to take on Indian bowlers at the right time.
“It does happen as the batsmen start to access different areas. It is going to be a challenge. Pope accessed the square leg area and the reverse sweep as well. They took on the attack when it was really needed.
“Sometimes it happens because someone like him who plays these kinds of shots consistently does get the bowlers under pressure in terms of variations of the line. But we need to be patient with lines and hope to get a wicket,” said Mhambrey.
(With inputs from PTI)
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