Dravid eyes late runs

Profiles / Editor / 27 June 2007 / Leave a Comment

India captain Rahul Dravid is looking for an improved batting display in the final ten overs of the second one-day international with South Africa in Belfast.

The two sides are set to face each other in the second of a three-match series on Friday after the Proteas edged home with three balls to spare to take the opener on Tuesday.

India scored 242-8 in their 50 overs in the Northern Ireland capital but scored just 60 in their final ten overs, something Dravid is hoping his fellow batsmen can address in two day's time.

"Probably, with eight wickets in hand, we would have liked more than 60 in the last 10 overs, maybe 70 or 75," he said. "That would have been more par for the course on the slog."

In early trading the South Africans are the 1.41 favourites to claim the second match with Dravid's charges on offer at 2.4 in a developing market.

Jacques Kallis was the hero for South Africa with an unbeaten 91, while the 'little master' Sachin Tendulkar was run out one short of his century as the Indians posted their total.

Kallis is standing in as skipper for Graeme Smith on the tour and he was pleased with the way some of the emerging players played a part in the opening victory.

He said: "We have a lot of youngsters on tour, it's our first real tour since the World Cup and I think the guys have done superbly."