Pujara keeps Sri Lanka at bay

by Ranjan Anandappa

A fighting unbeaten 135 by opener Cheteshwar Pujara took India from the wilderness to the Promised Land as they reached a satisfying first innings total of 292 for 8 at the end of the second day of the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC ground yesterday.

Chateshwar Pujara on his way to his century shared partnerships with Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Naman Ohja and the support batting was good enough throughout the innings to end the day at 292 for 8 after being 180 for 7. However, the most valuable effort came for the eight wicket between Pujara and Mishra who added 104 runs in 27.1 overs. Pujara’s unbeaten innings lasted 434 minutes and had thirteen fours facing 277 deliveries.

Pujara who had been sidelined from the Indian outfit was brought in as regular openers Shikar Dhawan and Murali Vijay were injured. Pujara justified his selection by saving India from an embarrassing situation losing their top order at regular intervals against some stout-hearted bowling by Dammika Prasad who looked capable of running through the Indian batting.

India had some moments of tribulation when they came to bat on the second day. Dammika Prasad and Nuwan Pradeep exploited the early morning life the fast bowlers had. Prasad in particular started off from where he had left on the rain interrupted first day where India stood at 50 for 2 in the 15 overs bowled.

Kohli who was unbeaten on 18 overnight was not hitting the ball with the sweetest timing that normally marks his batsmanship. Prasad began the day with an eventful over to Kohli who survived two leg-before wicket shouts. The first five overs bowled between Prasad and Prdeep realised only five runs with both batsmen batting with great uncertainty.

The pitch looking fresh and may be with some moisture set in, Prasad in particular created a great deal of uncertainty in the minds of the batsmen. Angelo Mathews taking over from Prasad brought the desired result for the Lankans in his first over for the day replacing Dammika Prasad.

Mathews made Kohli to edge one, a ball which deviated a bit and the struggling Indian captain was caught behind to give Kusal Janith Perera his first Test catch as a wicket keeper. Kusal Perera would have been a relieved man as he dropped the Indian captain on the first day when he was eight. Kohli and Pujara had added 50 runs for the third wicket.The pitch did not provide much assistance for the spinners. Once Rangana Herath and Tharindu Kaushal were brought into the attack the Indian batsmen Chateswar Pujara and Rohit Sharma were somewhat at ease.

Rohit Sharma rotating the strike struck the first six in the Indian innings hoisting Herath over long -on. The score was reaching the hundred run mark by then with Sharma and Pujara adding 57 runs for the fourth wicket. But in the last over before lunch Prasad who was the pick of the bowlers got one to move away and Upul Tharanga in the slips accepted the catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma for 26.

India went in for lunch at 119 for 4 with Pujara compiling a defiant 55 and hoping to come back after lunch with Stuart Binny. But Binny was trapped lbw first ball after lunch and Prasad on virtue of his earlier wicket of Rohit Sharma was on a hat-trick.

Debutant wicket keeper Naman Ojha played down the hat-trick ball and kept company with Pujara to add a valuable 54 runs in 91 deliveries for the sixth wicket.. Ojha at 21 going for a big hit after batting patiently holed a catch to Tharanga at deep mid -wicket. Ravichandran Ashwin after a brief stay with Pujara became Prasad’s fourth victim.

With the wicket losing the sting the morning had, Pujara found an useful ally in Amith Mishra who dug in to produce the most fruitful alliance for the eight wicket. The second new ball was taken with India 228 for 7.

Pujara 103 and Mishra 30, but the new ball did not serve the purpose of separating the pair as they took apart a tiring new ball attack. They added 104 runs in 27.1 overs and Mishrra’s contribution was 59 after facing 84 deliveries which had seven boundaries before he was stumped by Kusal Perera off Herath.

They brought the score from 180 for 7 to 284 and India were on their way to a reasonable recovery. Paceman Dammika Prasad who has been always answering his skipper’s call to strike vital blows took 4 for 83 in 23 overs.