Sehwag says India can save first Test

NAGPUR: India may be facing the prospect of an innings defeat inside four days but dashing opener Virender Sehwag on Monday sounded confident that the hosts would pull a rabbit out of the hat and save the opening Test against South Africa. "Against Australia (in 2001) we had followed on and won.

 
Anything can happen in this game. Sachin Tendulkar is still batting and he's a very experienced hand. Murali Vijay is also batting well. We will fight it out," said the flamboyant opener who scored his 18th hundred in India's first innings.

India, who trailed South Africa by a massive 325 runs in the first innings, were 66 for the loss of Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the second innings and needed 259 runs more to stave off an innings defeat with only eight wickets and a largely inexperienced lower order to come. Sehwag, who made 109 and also put on 136 runs for the fourth wicket with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (56) in the first innings, said the hosts were disappointed with their performance today.

"We are all upset we did not bat well. We needed a few more partnerships going but we have to give credit to Dale Steyn who bowled very well. He used the swing to get the wickets of Sachin Tendulkar and Murali Vijay (in the first innings). He also reverse swung the ball well after the ball was changed just after tea," he said.