'Pitch is definitely not going to get easier to bat on. There was some top-quality bowling attack this morning that kept us on our toes all the time.'
South Africa batter Keegan Petersen says his team will look to keep India's lead under 200 in the second Test, as anything more will be difficult to chase on a pitch that is getting tougher by the day.
The seasoned duo of Cheteshwar Pujara (35 batting) and Ajinkya Rahane (11 batting) showed positive intent at the fag end of Day 2, as India recovered from 44 for 2 after losing both openers to post 85 for 2 and take an overall 58-run lead.
“The more they get the more it's gonna be for us to get. It's a difficult bowling attack to come up against," Petersen, who was South Africa's top-scorer in the first innings, said after Tuesday’s proceedings.
"So, realistically, I'd say anything under 200 maybe will be a good total to chase, but the more they get, the further away it makes for us.
Against some top quality Indian bowling, the 28-year-old notched his maiden half-century -- a defiant 62 off 118 balls -- in his fourth Test appearance.
Petersen's 118-ball knock came to an end shortly before lunch when he was caught at second slip by Mayank Agarwal after he edged the ball off the bowling of Shardul Thakur, who returned career-best figures of 7 for 61.
"It's gonna be tough in the rest of the Test. Pitch is definitely not going to get easier to bat on. There was some top-quality bowling attack this morning that kept us on our toes all the time," he said.
“So I'm happy... I wish I could have done more to put the team in a better position. But we will take it as it comes.
"They (Indian bowlers) came out all guns blazing. It was a challenging two hours in the morning session. Both the conditions and the way they executed their plans, it was just good bowling and very tricky."
He credited his dad, Dirk Petersen, for his solid technique that was on full display on Day 2.
“I have been batting the same way since I was a kid. My only thanks to my dad who is the only guy working with me all his life. So it comes naturally, I think."
"He played cricket a little bit. I was a kid when he was at the back end of his career in club cricket and that's how I was dragged along," he recalled about his journey.
Petersen Senior's cricket career saw him share the field as part of the Western Province B team in the late 1980s and early 90s.
