Andrew Strauss is confident England can use his record-equalling century and force home victory over India in the first Test.
The Middlesex left-hander became only the 10th England batsman in history to score hundreds in both innings of a Test and the first ever on Indian soil by hitting a determined 108 during a 214-run stand with fellow centurion Paul Collingwood.
Their partnership, England’s third best in India, helped the tourists declare on 311 for nine and set India a victory target of 387 – a score which would be the highest fourth-innings total ever at the Chepauk Stadium if they were successful.
That outcome was still a possibility by the close of the fourth day with opener Virender Sehwag hammering an explosive 83 off 68 balls, which included 11 fours and four sixes, to help his side reach 131 for one at the close of the fourth day needing a further 256 for a famous victory.
But England remain confident of wrapping up the nine wickets required on the final day to claim a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series, with Strauss claiming: "From our point of view I think we’re still pretty confident we can take those last nine wickets.
"There’s definitely enough happening in the pitch so if we just remain patient and keep doing the right things I think there are going to be nine opportunities out there for us, it’s just a case of us making sure we take them.
"Sehwag was exceptional. He always takes the game to the opposition and plays a game that most people are pretty unfamiliar with and he rode his luck a little bit, but that’s the kind of player he is and he has given India a sniff of a victory."
His explosive display was only ended six overs before the close when he was given lbw to off-spinner Graeme Swann having been missed on 26 after giving a harsh chance to the gully.
"Someone like Sehwag almost manipulates the field," admitted Strauss.
"He sees where you put the fielder and says ‘right, I’m going to hit it somewhere else now’.
"It’s very tricky for a captain. We had some fields set where he just went over the top of Colly and just went over Alastair Cook’s head – it was just his time and he played exceptionally well and took the game to us.
"It’s amazing to see that freedom of play. A lot of the time it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but he has got a style that’s exceptionally pleasing to watch if you’re not on the opposition team."
Sehwag believed he should not have been given out by umpire Daryl Harper, claiming it was too close to call.
He said: "I was playing the shot and maybe the ball spun too much so maybe the umpire said ‘not out’.
"It all depends on the umpire. In the first innings he gave two close decisions in England’s favour, so I think he has to be consistent."
He added: ""I was just playing my shots, normal batting, I wasn’t going after any bowler but they were giving me width to cut.
"I think we’re in a good position to win this game and we will go for a win tomorrow..We have to try to bat 90 overs and if we do that we can score 250/260 runs – the pitch is still good to bat on if you get settled, it’s less than three an over."
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