DURBAN, South Africa, Dec 26 (Reuters) South Africa's Herschelle Gibbs bounced back from the first pair of his career by scoring an aggressive half-century on the first day of the second test against India today.
Gibbs, dismissed without scoring twice in the first test, scored 63 to help South Africa reach a respectable 257 for eight when bad light ended play 17 overs early.
''I was disappointed I didn't push on to at least a hundred, but I guess some runs is better than no runs,'' Gibbs, who was pushed down the order from opener to number four, told a news conference.
''It was good to spend some time in the middle again.'' Gibbs played down his descent in the order, which might have taken him as low as number six had Jacques Kallis not been ruled out of the second test with a painful back.
''I've been up and down the order for the past year-and-a-half, because I'm probably the second most senior batsman in the top six,'' Gibbs said.
''I've got to bat wherever they want me to bat, I'm just happy to be playing.'' Gibbs shared 94 runs with Ashwell Prince for the fourth wicket after South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, slumped to 28 for three in the first hour.
The obdurate Prince was 98 not out at the close.
''He's been very sound, very tight, and that's probably how you play test cricket,'' Gibbs said of Prince.
''He hasn't flirted with his form - when the ball's been there to hit, he's hit it. He's also defended positively.'' India captain Rahul Dravid praised his team for their perseverance on a day of soaring temperatures and intense humidity.
''To lose the toss and end up the way we did was a great effort by all the boys,'' Dravid told a news conference.
''We worked really hard, even in the afternoon session when we only got one wicket. We stuck to the task and played good cricket.'' ''It was a tough grind out there, and we showed a lot of character as a team.'' Dravid said that Sachin Tendulkar, who left the field injured after dropping a catch at first slip that would have dismissed Prince for 41, would be fit to bat in India's first innings.
''He's bruised his right thumb, but he's fine,'' Dravid said.
REUTERS SP RAI2251
Gibbs, dismissed without scoring twice in the first test, scored 63 to help South Africa reach a respectable 257 for eight when bad light ended play 17 overs early.
''I was disappointed I didn't push on to at least a hundred, but I guess some runs is better than no runs,'' Gibbs, who was pushed down the order from opener to number four, told a news conference.
''It was good to spend some time in the middle again.'' Gibbs played down his descent in the order, which might have taken him as low as number six had Jacques Kallis not been ruled out of the second test with a painful back.
''I've been up and down the order for the past year-and-a-half, because I'm probably the second most senior batsman in the top six,'' Gibbs said.
''I've got to bat wherever they want me to bat, I'm just happy to be playing.'' Gibbs shared 94 runs with Ashwell Prince for the fourth wicket after South Africa, who won the toss and chose to bat, slumped to 28 for three in the first hour.
The obdurate Prince was 98 not out at the close.
''He's been very sound, very tight, and that's probably how you play test cricket,'' Gibbs said of Prince.
''He hasn't flirted with his form - when the ball's been there to hit, he's hit it. He's also defended positively.'' India captain Rahul Dravid praised his team for their perseverance on a day of soaring temperatures and intense humidity.
''To lose the toss and end up the way we did was a great effort by all the boys,'' Dravid told a news conference.
''We worked really hard, even in the afternoon session when we only got one wicket. We stuck to the task and played good cricket.'' ''It was a tough grind out there, and we showed a lot of character as a team.'' Dravid said that Sachin Tendulkar, who left the field injured after dropping a catch at first slip that would have dismissed Prince for 41, would be fit to bat in India's first innings.
''He's bruised his right thumb, but he's fine,'' Dravid said.
REUTERS SP RAI2251
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