Indian batsman Dinesh Kaarthick said the first hour of the second day’s play on Friday as the crucial one for India in the third Test at the Oval.

"I think we got off to a very good start and it is important that we consolidate it tomorrow. We are very happy with the way we batted today. The first hour of tomorrow is going to be very crucial,” Kaarthick, who made 91 on Thursday, said here.

“Two experienced batsmen are out there and the ball is new and if we can get off to a good start a good total is gettable. But to be honest there is no figure in our minds," Kaarthick added.

There was a lingering doubt about the dismissal of Kaarthick. The Tamil Nadu opener had snicked Ryan Sidebottom to wicketkeeper Matt Prior. "Yes, there was a small snick, so there is no doubt about that. I was disappointed about the way I got out. Yeah, the ball started swinging very well at that stage, but I played a bad shot at the wrong time," he said.

"But I think I batted very well. I started off very well and I am happy about the way I consolidated. In fact, I started very slowly and when Jaffer was on 24, I was on five. He was just smacking the ball all over. Well, once you get set on such tracks, if you are confident that you can play strokes… I did that today.

‘Disappointed’
“But I am definitely disappointed by the way I got out. It was at the wrong time. I am really disappointed. But luckily Sachin and Sourav built a good partnership and that was good because the ball was doing a bit then," he added.

Kaarthick, however, refused to comment on Sourav Ganguly's dismissal. "Even you saw it, I saw it, but I don't want to comment on that."

He termed the toss as a good one to win.

"This was a good toss to win, definitely on a flat wicket like this, it was a good thing for us and we are very happy about that."

On the adjustments he had made to his batting technique, the Indian batsman said, "I have opened up my stance a bit, and tried and get my left shoulder to face the bowler.

“It is the small alteration that I have made because otherwise I was kind of getting my leg across."