The Hindu : Sport : Need to keep up the intensity, says Harbhajan Singh

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Need to keep up the intensity, says Harbhajan Singh

Special Correspondent

The first hour on Saturday will be very important: Harbhajan
Training in the army had hardened his outlook, says Mendis

Galle: Harbhajan Singh, who returned figures of four for 71 and inspired a fight-back on day two of the second Test, said India had to reproduce the bowling intensity of Friday afternoon to sway the match its way.

“We did well with the ball today, (though) it would have been nice to get another 100 on the board,” said the off-spinner of a day that ended with Sri Lanka trailing India by 114, five wickets in hand.

Long way to go

“We still have a long way to go. The first hour tomorrow will be very important, one or two wickets in the first half hour, and we will be in a very good position. We are definitely giving our best shot tomorrow. We have to get another wicket and then the tail starts, and we know Chaminda Vaas can bat. We have to take our catches, bowl as we did today and restrict them to (another) 50-60.”

How was the track playing? “It’s not turning that much,” said the 28-year-old. “The odd ball is spinning. But if you bowl in the right areas and set the field accordingly, there are chances you can create.”

Harbhajan said he operated a touch quicker than he did at the SSC.

“The ball was drifting a bit. I just tried to bowl a little quick and I tried to mix my pace, and that worked for me today.”

Review system

On the chances he created against Mahela Jayawardene, including a referral for leg-before with the ball doing too much to convince the umpire to change his mind, Harbhajan said, “It would have been nice to get Mahela out. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose in the review system.”

Asked if the side thought it had Thilan Samraweera run out, and was disappointed with the ‘not out’ verdict, Harbhajan said, “We don’t have a TV on the field. I don’t know if he was out or not, but luckily we got him out. That’s all I have to say (about this).”

Mendis delighted

After registering his first haul of five wickets or more (in an innings) in only his second Test match, Ajantha Mendis spoke of the simplicity of his methods, his regard for Muttiah Muralitharan, and Virender Sehwag’s unbeaten 231-ball 201.

“I am very happy with taking a five-for,” said the young mystery spinner. “Bowling with Murali at the other end gives me a lot of confidence. I didn’t think that I would take more wickets than Murali in a Test innings. I got the opportunity and I performed.”

How did he react to India’s batsmen attacking him on the first day? “Although Indian batsmen were determined to attack my bowling, I knew if I did the right things I would be successful,” said Mendis.

No different plans

“I didn’t have any different plans in mind when the batsmen attacked me. Because we kept our heads during that period we were able to dismiss them.”

Training in the army, Mendis said, had “hardened” his outlook and “helped bring discipline” to his bowling. He added that these qualities had helped him compete against the world’s best batsmen.

What did he think of his contest with Sehwag? “I bowled the same way as I bowled to the others,” he said of the Indian opener, who passed 5000 Test runs in making his fifth score of 200 and more. “Sehwag batted really well. Towards the latter part of Sehwag’s innings I was looking more towards controlling him rather than attacking.”

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