India can force a result on the final day: Pooja Vastrakar

Indian pacer Pooja Vastrakar felt that her team is in a good position to force Australia to follow-on and force a result in the day-night Test match at Carrara Oval. Australia will resume their first innings on fourth and final day at 143/4 on Sunday with Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner at the crease. Vastrakar, who claimed 2-31 on Friday, felt that breaking Perry-Gardner partnership is going to be crucial for India.

"We need to break the partnership as it is important for our plans to force a follow-on. We got four wickets in two sessions today, so anything can happen tomorrow. If we show good intent, I think we can get a result," Vastrakar said in a press conference.

After India declared at 377/8, Australia were reduced to 69/2 by tea as Jhulan Goswami removed Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy with a two excellent deliveries, while Vastrakar sent back captain Meg Lanning and Tahlia McGrath in the final session.

"Meghna and Jhulan di have given us a good start and my job was to keep it going. We pitched the ball in the right areas as we have planned and not think too much about the pitch."

Vastrakar, who had been in and out of the team due to back-to-back injuries, spoke about her struggles and how covid halted her comeback.

"I had left knee injury (ACL) before 2018 T20 World Cup in West Indies, then I had a hamstring grade-2 tear. Because of Covid, two more years of my career were wasted," she said. "But, I kept on noting down what were the things that led to the injury so that I can avoid it. Now, I feel fit and happy," she added.

The 22-year old also spoke how head coach Ramesh Powar's advice helped her correct her action and do well on the pitch.

"I was very disappointed with my bowling in the first ODI (0-26 in 2 overs). Ramesh sir gave me few tips during the net sessions and told me to stick to those during the match as well. Those things really helped today."

"My action was lacking a bit, I was getting stuck. I'm a front-arm bowler, so he told me to extend my right arm little more," Vastrakar explained.

The pacer was lucky to get the wicket of Meg Lanning as the Australian skipper couldn't challenge for an inside edge due to absence of DRS for the Test. Vastrakar said she was not looking at who the batter was.

"I was not focusing on the batter and stuck to my line and length," she said.

Speaking about the experience of playing with the pink ball and under the lights, Vastrakar said: "There is more swing with the red ball. You get good swing initially with the pink ball, but not that much once it gets old. Under the lights, its a lot of fun bowling."