‘It was a balanced day’

South Africa coach says series good preparation for India tour.

ABU DHABI: South Africa coach Corrie van Zyl said winning the Test against Pakistan, that will clinch the two-match series, will be good preparation before his team plays India.

South Africa, who made 584 for nine, have Pakistan fighting to save the Test after they reduced the hosts to 317 for six on the third day. The tourists, however, struggled for wickets on the third day and managed just five in 88 overs bowled on the day.

“This is Test cricket and we had good cricket at the end of the day. The Dubai pitch gave us [chances] for more than two or three days and then stayed the same. This [Abu Dhabi pitch] looks fairly flatter at the moment and I haven’t seen any deterioration,” said Zyl, who maintained that it was a balanced day for both teams.

“It was an even day. It was a long one as we bowled 88 overs but every wicket we got was important and the sooner we can get the remaining wickets the better.”

The coach added the series against Pakistan will be the best preparation for a tough one against hosts India that begins next month. “This is good preparation against India who are the top-ranked team in Test cricket. Our only focus is to win this Test match.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2010.