Durban, Dec 29: South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher today expressed the confidence that his team would level the series with a win at Kingsmead if they could have a crack at the Indians for 50 overs on the final day of the second Test tomorrow.
"There is forecast for poor weather tomorrow but I am prepared to put my neck on line and if we can bowl 50 overs we could win the Test," said the ebullient stumper.
Boucher obviously looked to have play at least till tea on the final day and said his side had done a good job in getting two important wickets on the fourth evening.
"We need two sessions tomorrow. We've got rid of Viru (Sehwag) who could take the attack to us and we have also got the man who could bat out time in Rahul Dravid. If we can get a couple of other important wickets, we can pull things around.
"Obviously getting Tendulkar would be important as well as V V S Laxman who is their in-form batsman so far in the series."
Boucher said his team took heart from the fact that five wickets fell in the first session on the third day and it was six on the fourth morning.
"There is something for bowlers in the first session," remarked Boucher. "If they are defensive, they can play into our hands." Boucher was delighted with the return to form of skipper Graeme Smith who made 58 and gave the team a 99-run first wicket stand with AB de
Villiers.
"Cricket has a way of pulling you down and then lifting you up. I am delighted for him and it would make him a better person, player and captain." His counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni virtually ruled out a run chase, pointing out that no team had made 300 runs in a day in the series.
"Weather also is going to be very critical. Nobody has been able to bowl 90 overs in a day." Dhoni felt his side, if it had wickets in hand, could re-assess the situation after tea tomorrow.
"If you look the first two Tests, there have always been partnerships with tail-enders and they are proving to be a bigger threat than the main batsmen," he felt.
Dhoni was dismissive of his counterpart's claim that Indians could be dismissed within 50 overs tomorrow.
"If I was a South African cricketer, I wouldn't have said it." The dashing wicketkeeper-batsman has a very badly bruised right little finger but is relieved it isn't broken.
About his batting, Dhoni said if he could avoid cover drives, he would score more runs for the team. (Agencies)
