Indeed it did and he batted very patiently. With the pressure on I just could not understand a quick single that ran out O'Keefe. What a shame we did not get another 100 from Maxi, Hanscomb and Marsh however. No one has commented on debut Keldup's bowling. The ball that bowled Maxi was like Warnie's 'Ball of the Century'. Pitched wide of the leg stump, left alone, jumped and turned to the off side and took the top of his off stump. Poor Maxi was stunned.
He is a Googly or Chinaman bowler and the Indian selectors were shrewd to bring him into the side. He is exactly the same type of bowler that ripped through us repeatedly on the Sri Lankan tour last year. This wicket os extremely odd. One end is taking seam bowling and reverse swing well, and the other Keldup gets the ball to spin, bounce and jump. Almost as if it had been prepared delibeately, but one could not say that without being called a cheat.
How good is 300 Lefty? I do not know for one. Time will tell. Remember First Test, 256 was an outstanding total and more than India could compile in two innings. By 5pm today we will have some idea methinks.