Wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha, who played a crucial knock of 54* to propel India to 316 in the first innings of the second Test at the Eden Gardens, on Saturday said the contribution of the lower-order batsmen always provides an edge and the 50-60 runs that the team gets at the end is very helpful.
India resumed the day on 239 for seven as Saha and Jadeja took the innings forward with a 41-run partnership.
"Our plan, what we had discussed in the team meeting, was to concentrate on building partnerships in the morning. We focused on blocks of 10-15 runs and thought that the more it can get carried forward the better for us. We initially thought of getting to 270-280 and if all was going well to aim for 300-plus. That is what happened. There was a 40-odd run partnership with Jadeja and 30-odd with Shami, and that helped us cross 310," Saha said speaking to reporters after the second day's play.
When asked about the recent improvement seen the batsmen-ship of the lower order, the wicketkeeper batsman insisted, "Our plan is always that, normal batsmen will score runs anyway, but after that also, if the lower order and tail-enders can contribute, the 50-60 runs boost that we get at the end is very helpful for the team. We aim at stretching it as much as possible and take the team towards a better score."
Saha also said that there was no secret of his art of batting with the tail.
"There is no secret. The understanding we have among us is very good and we are able to rotate the strike well. We were also able to convert the loose balls into boundaries. In our team, almost everyone plays their shots, so whether you get singles or boundaries, we end up having good partnerships," he said.
Saha also said Bhuvneshwar Kumar's surprise inclusion was done keeping in mind the grassy wicket as the seamer scalped a five-for to tighten the noose around New Zealand here.
New Zealand made 128 for seven before bad light forced early stumps with wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling and Jeetan Patel on the crease at 12 and 5, respectively. The tourists are still 188 runs behind Virat Kohli's side.
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