Curator promises a wicket full of runs in second ODI

Visakhapatnam: Even as India and the West Indies teams get ready for another stern battle on Friday in the second one-dayer here, the Dr YSR Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium promises a wicket full of runs.

ACA chief curator Nagamallaiah with assistance from BCCI south zone curator PR Viswanathan has prepared a batting-friendly strip here, former India Test wicketkeeper MSK Prasad, who is now the director cricket operations in ACA said. "It`s always been batting friendly wicket here. It has nicely been rolled and the ball will come nicely on to the bat. Both the teams will look to put up a good score," said Prasad. He also added that dew would be there but would not play a "huge difference". Stating that there would be little for the slow bowlers, the former pacer said: "It would be the seamers who have to do the task." In the last match played here on this ground, India had chased down Australia`s 290 with seven balls to spare in a five-wicket win. In fact, this place has been the "city of destiny" for the Indian team as it enjoys a cent per cent record from three matches so far. The venue also holds a lot of importance for the World Cup winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is not playing in this ODI series. Dhoni created his own destiny here when he burst into the national scene with a 123-ball 148, studded with 15 boundaries and four sixes on April 5, 2005. It was the first international match at the venue nestled in the idyllic Caribbean-like sylvan setting in the coastal port town of Visakhapatnam. India`s record on this ground will definitely boost the confidence of Virender Sehwag`s men, who may be a tad short on confidence following a difficult one-wicket victory in the last match. The city is also waiting with bated breath for tomorrow`s one-dayer, as one can see a giant board by the Andhra Cricket Association just in front of the Visakhapatnam railway station, which reads: "City of Destiny" welcomes you for the second one-dayer between India and West Indies". It is expected to be a jam-packed stadium, which has sitting capacity of 28,300, here tomorrow. According to ACA, there had been a heavy demand for the tickets, including the highest denominations ones of Rs. 3,000. All tickets have been sold out. The stadium last hosted a match more than a year back on October 20, 2010. PTI