Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane feels that the target of 240 runs will be really hard for South Africa to chase in the ongoing second Test in Johannesburg.
The ongoing second Test of the three-match series between South Africa and India is evenly poised at the moment. The visitors displayed a decent batting performance in their second innings to post a total of 266 runs on the board.
In what were difficult batting conditions in Johannesburg, senior Indian batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane stood tall for their team and stitched 111 runs partnership to bail their team out of trouble after two early wickets.
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Counter-attacking half-centuries by Pujara (53) and Rahane (58) helped the visitors set a fighting target of 266 runs for the hosts to chase and to level the series 1-1.
In reply, South Africa batted with great intent in their second innings as skipper Dean Elgar (46*) led from the front on Day 3 and took his side a step closer to victory as the hosts ended the day at 118/2, with 122 more runs needed to win the match.
Speaking at the end of Day 3, Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane said that chasing 240 runs will be hard for South Africa on the uneven Johannesburg pitch.
He while admitting that heavy roller made the surface easy, pointed out that it affects the pitch only for an hour and as time passes it’ll become tough for the batters to bat. He added that Indian bowlers bowled really well and lauded the hosts for showing great intent.
“We still think the target of 240 is really hard for them. But it only takes effect for half an hour, 40 minutes and then becomes really hard for the batsman. I thought we bowled really well, but they came with the intent. But the way we came back in the last session, we bowled really great lines,” Ajinkya Rahane said.
Rahane said that his side needs to keep their discipline and intent going and wait for the one wicket to fall, after which they can jump in and put pressure on the opposition. He stressed that they need to keep things simple and play to their plan on Day 4.
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“We have to just keep our discipline, keep it tight, keep our intent going and just wait for that one wicket and then we can just jump in right there. We don’t have to try too many things tomorrow. If we can keep it really simple. And just play to our plan... I’m sure that we will get a good game tomorrow,” he said.
Ajinkya Rahane admitted that Day 3 wicket was good to bat on and they had a decent day.
“We actually thought the wicket was really good to bat on. Yes, there was the odd ball jumping around or keeping low. You had to concentrate hard and play one ball at a time. But I thought we had a decent day today,” he said.
(Reuters inputs)
