Pujara’s century helped India to recover after early blows

Mumbai: Cheteshwar Pujara hit  his second consecutive maiden Test century as India recovered from a precarious situation to restore the balance on first day of the second Test match against England at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.

Pujara found an able ally in Ravichandran Ashwin (60 batting) as the duo put on unfinished 97-run partnership for the seventh wicket to bail them out after the hosts were reeling at 119 for five at one stage.

Pujara stayed for just over six hours in which he had faced 279 balls and struck ten fours. Ashwin faced 84 for his valuable knock.

Pujara came into the game on the back of his unbeaten knocks of 206 and 41 in the two innings of the opening Test at Ahmedabad, which fetched him the Man of the Match award and paved the way for his team’s comprehensive nine-wicket victory.

Panesar, who took four for 91 by the end of the day’s day, was played with a lot of assurance by Pujara.

It was the Rajkot-born youngster’s third 100-plus knock in his last four Test matches, having scored a maiden century (159) against New Zealand in August.

Pujara, who has been dismissed only in the warm-up game for Mumbai A after making 87, continued to prosper against the visitors with his exemplary concentration and shot selection.

He gave one chance, when on 60, when he edged Panesar but James Anderson could not latch on to it.

When on 94, England needlessly appealed against him for a catch at midwicket, which was referred to the third umpire and the replays showed the ball had bounced in front of the short leg fielder.

The early part of the day belonged to England who sent back Gambhir (4), Virender Sehwag (30) — in his 100th Test — Sachin Tendulkar (8), Virat Kohli (19) and  Yuvraj Singh (0).

Dhoni came to the crease and started to attack the two spinners with his drives and cuts.

He was lucky on 22 in a score of 149 for five when he stepped out against Swann, missed a big heave but luckily the ball clipped the top of his pad and got deflected before wicketkeeper Matt Prior could stump the batsman.

Dhoni was later out, caught off the gloves in the close-in cordon, off Panesar. Pujara and Ashwin, however, held fort.

Even the second new ball, taken after 80 overs, did not benefit England.

Pujara pulled Anderson for a four to complete his 100 in 248 balls, before Ashwin struck the bowler for three fours in an over to race to 50 in 67 balls.

The off-spinner has hit a century at this ground an year ago, against the West Indies.
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