By IANS
Chennai : South African middle-order batsman Hashim Amla, who helped his side in posting a mammoth first innings total Thursday, feels that pressure will be on India when they come out to bat in the second innings, as the Chepauk pitch would assist spinners in later stages of the match.
Amla, who made a gritty 159 on the second day of the first Test as the visitors posted 540 in their first innings, said that the Proteas bowlers were expecting the pitch to assist spinners in the last two days of the match.
“We know that pitches in the sub-continent are usually good for batting in the first couple of days, but will start aiding spinners thereafter and our bowlers are hoping that it would be so,” Amla told reporters here after the second day’s play.
Though Amla rated his first century against a potent Indian spin attack on their home turf as a rare one, his career-saving unbeaten 176 against the Kiwis last year at Johannesburg will always remain “special” to him, he said.
“Of course, getting a Test match hundred away from home is always special, and the 159 is right up there along with the 176 not out but the knock against New Zealand was even more special as my career depended on it,” he said.
Amla also admitted that it was a huge challenge for him to bat long under the hot and humid conditions of Chennai.
“It was the hottest conditions I have ever batted and so was very challenging. But the pitch was too good to bat on. In the morning, I was a bit surprised that India did not take the second new ball first up,” he said.