Pujara backs India to 'draw' confidence from 'negative' Proteas batting tactics in first Test

Johannesburg, Dec 25 (ANI): Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara said that his team can draw confidence from the fact that South Africa's negative batting tactics at the end of the first Test showed a lack of confidence in their lower batting order. The two teams drew the opening clash of the two-Test series, although the match in Johannesburg could have gone either way with the Proteas falling just eight runs short of a world record fourth-innings chase of 458. According to Sport24, Pujara said that India has a very good chance to bowl the South Africans out given the kind of batting line the hosts have, adding that with the exception of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, no other batsmen were able to score big runs, which is a positive sign for India. Pujara further said that he believes India can defeat South Africa in the series decider in Durban on Thursday as it is evident from South African batsmen's cautiousness regarding their going for the target, that they are worried about their tail-enders. The right-hander, who scored an aggregate of 178 runs at the Wanderers, also felt the potential loss of Morne Morkel, who injured his ankle during the first Test, would be a huge blow for the home side because the kind of bounce he gets from the wicket makes it difficult to score runs against him. Pujara also felt India dealt well with the threat of host spinner Imran Tahir, whose place in the XI for Durban is not assured after an off-colour outing in the opening game, the report added. (ANI)