Opener Lou Vincent, who scored a career-best 106 on Thursday to lay the platform for a big New Zealand total, said his team wanted to pay back India in the same coin -- scoring a big first innings total to exert the pressure -- in the series-deciding second cricket Test.
"The Indians had posted a big total in the first Test at Ahmedabad to put us on the backfoot straightaway. We can do the same thing by getting a big total and give our bowlers a fair chance to have a go at the Indian batting," Vincent told reporters here.
He said the mood in the Kiwi camp was upbeat after the side put up a commanding 247 for one on the first day and the team management would work on a strategy to win the Test.
Vincent, who was involved in New Zealand's best ever 231-run opening stand against India with Mark Richardson (102 not out), said it was "very satisfying" to score a century against the Indians but treated his century on debut against Australia as "most memorable".
"It is always very satisfying to score a century. This one is special because it came against quality spinners. It has given me a lot of confidence and will help me as a batsman," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"It is always very satisfying to score a century. This one is special because it came against quality spinners. It has given me a lot of confidence and will help me as a batsman," he said.
{{/usCountry}}On the Mohali strip, Vincent said the track looked a good one for batting and felt that it would play well in the first two days.
"The wicket looks pretty flat. Even though there is some movement early in the morning, it is not difficult for us because we are used to such bounce. We will have to see how it behaves on the third and fourth day," he said.
Though all the Indian bowlers struggled to get wickets on the first day of the Test match, Vincent had a word of praise for leg-spinner Anil Kumble saying he bowled a tidy spell.
"He (Kumble) does not give a lot away. He is always very tight."
Asked who he thought was best among the Indian bowlers, Vincent said "Kumble can be pretty hard at times. Harbhajan (Singh) is also a good spinner and can also surprise you with his spin and bounce."
The right-handed opener said he had worked to counter the Indian bowlers before embarking on the tour and was pleased that his efforts were paying dividends.
"I practised the sweep shots considering that we would have to cope with spinners in India."