Karachi, July 4: The benign wicket here at the National Stadium has left captains perplexed and with very little option but to depend heavily on their batting. Both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mahela Jayawardene agreed it was getting increasingly difficult to predict a safe total and in jocular vein suggested 400 could be a safe bet after India chased down 309 to qualify for the Asia Cup final here.

Thursday was another day on which more than 600 runs were scored but the cricket itself was hardly engrossing. With the bowlers having very little chance, the team batting second, well knowing what is in front of them, had the advantage.

"It all depends on the start when we are chasing big scores and we have been lucky to have Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag providing us just that. Previously the dressing room used to be a little gloomy when the target was in excess of 300 but not any more. There is a very good chance of it being topped in conditions as these," said Dhoni.

The team displayed enormous mental strength during the chase. It was a must win game but the team played their natural attacking game. The success in batting has helped overcome the limitations in bowling and fielding.

It can’t go on for long though. There was a bit of spark when Ishant Sharma and R.P. Singh operated with the new ball but it soon fizzled out. The attack has lacked imagination when it comes to bowling in these conditions. It is all very well to use the "flat track" defence, but lack of alternative plans are palpable.

There was no lack of effort though. The body language was better than what it was in the defeat against Pakistan. The fielders moved better, the bowlers ran in harder but their not being in their best of fitness clearly showed.

It is easy to be critical of the team but what has to be looked at is the amount of cricket they have played starting with the South Africa Test series followed by the IPL.

At the same time, being professional athletes, it is important they take field only if they are their best. This tournament has further stressed the importance of having a good bench and the confidence in turn it provides to rotate the team.

Crowds have been another major disappointment, India-Pakistan matches have not been able to attract enough people. Over rates have also been pathetic and may have played a part in the general disinterest. With the hosts missing out from the final, it will not be any better on Sunday. "If we can manage visas, we will bring people from India for the final," said Dhoni

Jayawardene termed the defeat a timely wake-up call. "We are not disappointed by the defeat. Perhaps, this will help us to concentrate harder in the final. That we are playing India can make a difference, in the sense we have already played them," he said.

"They have a talented bunch of batsmen. But the final is a huge game, and let us see how they handle that pressure," he added