I wanted to prove a point, says Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has been the best Indian bowler on view on Saturday, taking four wickets and troubling South African batsmen.

For Jadeja, the effort was medium to tell the world that he could be effective away from home as well.

“People has been telling that I was successful because I was playing at home conditions. I can turn the ball because I was bowling at sub-continental pitches. I came to know that I was playing this match on the match day, just before the toss.

I wanted to take five wickets here, and prove that I can take wickets abroad as well. Luckily, I got four wickets, hopefully tomorrow I can add one more. So this is a big feat for me,” said Jadeja during post-day press do.

Jadeja said one spinner was enough to do the job. “Indian wickets are different. You can play two spinners there because there is turn and bounce and foot marks. Everything is there. Here, it is very difficult for the spinners with the Kookaburra ball and the wickets. So, I think one spinner is enough,” said Jadeja.

The Saurashtra left-arm spinner said the wicket of AB de Villiers towards the end of the day was crucial. Jacques Kallis and De Villiers added 127 runs for the fourth wicket. “Kallis and AB were batting really well. We need to get them out as early as possible because we need to bat in the second innings as well. So, I think if we can just get them out as early as possible, we can put a good total on the board in the second innings. In that sense, the wicket of AB was crucial. He was batting well,” said Jadeja.

South African opener Alviro Petersen said they needed to take a substantial lead in good time, keeping in mind the lack of time and dull weather. “We need to see how far we can bat past them. Time is a problem because we won’t get a full day’s play in Durban and with the wicket turning we don’t want to bat last on it, so bat as long as possible tomorrow and keep the time in mind.”