India 'A' look to wrap up series

DHARAMSALA, September 18: Having a crushing victory in the previous match, India 'A' will guard against complacency as they seek to wrap up the series against South Africa 'A' in their second and final four-day cricket encounter beginning here on Wednesday.
Indians are buoyed after thumping the visitors by an innings and 242 runs with a day to spare at Delhi but know the South Africans, including a number of Test players, are capable of a fightback to level the two-match series at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium.
The visiting team, led by the experienced Boeta Dippenaar, also includes Ashwell Prince, Charl Langeveldt, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn and Robin Peterson, who all have Test experience.
"They (South Africa) have many good players in the side, we cannot forget that," said Indian skipper Mohmmad Kaif.
Besides, the bouncy wicket and presence of fast bowler Steyn may also aid the visitors, who had collapsed against spinners in the previous match.
Curator Anuj Paldas said "there is green top on the wicket and it will offer bounce. But it will also assist spin in the last two days."
Kaif, however, did not think that a fast pitch against the South African bowling line-up would be a problem for his team.
"I'm not sure if this South African bowling is that good," he said.
Suresh Raina, who missed out to Bengal's Manoj Tiwary in the first match, is likely to be in the playing XI for this match as the team management wants to give everyone in the squad a chance in the series.
The Uttar Pradesh batsman, just recovered from a knee injury, last played for the country nearly six months ago and the match would be particularly significant for him and other Team India hopefuls ahead of the busy international season.
Paceman Ishant Sharma, keen to retain his berth in the Test squad, would like to exploit the conditions to his best while fellow fast bowler Pankaj Singh would also be relied upon by the team.
South Africa would be under pressure after being battered in all departments of the game in the last match.
But captain Dippenaar said that although Indians played better in Delhi, the seamer-friendly track might be helpful for his team here.
"Indians played a better quality of cricket in Delhi and more than their spinners, we have to look at our fielding. We dropped almost everyone before 30, which we won't like to repeat here," he said.
"But the seaming track can definitely benefit us," he added.
He said Steyn, who could not be accommodated in the first match as he had arrived late, will play on Wednesday .
"I'm sure he will be playing," said the 30-year-old.
Teams (from):
India: Mohammad Kaif (capt), Aakash Chopra, Cheteshwar Pujara, Manoj Tiwary, S Badrinath, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel(wk), Ishant Sharma, Yo Mahesh, Pankaj Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Arjun Yadav, Ashraf Makda and Amit Mishra.
South Africa: Boeta Dippenaar (capt), Morne van Wyk, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Hashim Amla, Justin Ontong, Ashwell Prince, Werner Coetsee, Dale Steyn, Thami Tsolekile, Friedel de Wet, Yusuf Abdullah, Rory Kleinveldt and Charl Langeveldt.