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300-plus target will be ideal: Kumble
Leg-spinner Anil Kumble said on Friday that a target of 300-plus would be enough for India to win the second Test against Pakistan at Eden Gardens.
Leg-spinner Anil Kumble said on Friday that a target of 300-plus would be enough for India to win the second Test against Pakistan at the Eden Gardens.
"I think a 300-plus target will be ideal to win the Test. It won't be easy to bat on the fourth and fifth days," said Kumble, after his 3-98 effort restricted Pakistan to 393.
India, who had scored 407 in their first innings, were 133/3 at stumps on the third day for an overall lead of 147 on a pitch expected to help spinners on the final two days.
"It'll be good to have a score in that range so that the spinners can have an attacking field," said Kumble.
The Indian spinner, who bagged three wickets in seven overs to trigger a middle-order collapse, took the prize scalp of Pakistani vice-captain Younis Khan (147).
Younis's dismissal began the slide as Pakistan lost their last five wickets in the space of just 32 runs after resuming at a healthy 273/2.
"We knew it was a matter of just one wicket and we got two in the space of very few runs," said Kumble, referring to the dismissals of Yousuf Youhana (104) and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq (30).
"Now we need to bat session wise to build a healthy lead."
Sachin Tendulkar (52) and Rahul Dravid (54 not out) then built on Kumble's efforts to pull India out of early trouble (23-2).
Kumble, who took six wickets in the drawn first Test at Mohali last week, praised century-makers Younis and Youhana, who threatened to put the match beyond India's reach with their 211-run stand for the third wicket.
"Younis and Yousuf batted very well, especially their running between the wickets was superb. But still, you can't expect a second day pitch to help spinners," said Kumble, the fifth bowler to take more than 450 Test wickets.
"The pitch didn't help us even in the last Test here against South Africa in December. It helped spinners on the fourth day and we expect it to do the same this time around," said Kumble.
