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Nagpur, Nov 25: Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara dug deep and notched up respective tons as India dominated Sri Lankan bowlers on day two of the second Test in Nagpur on Saturday (November 25).
Coming back to the national side after a gap of eight months and struck a gritty century, his career's 10th hundred, while the man in form Cheteshwar Pujara (121*) and dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers in the morning session. He along with Cheteshwar stiched another brilliant partnership of 200-plus.
Vijay made an impressive return to the international arena after eight months with a patient century.
Currently, India's best Test opener, Vijay (128) looked hardly in any discomfort en route his 10th hundred, adding 209 runs with the ever dependable Cheteshwar Pujara (119 batting) for the second wicket.
And that brings the end of Day 2. #TeamIndia 312/2 with Cheteshwar Pujara on 121* and Virat Kohli going strong on 54*. India lead by 107 runs #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/GG8qziHjdr
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
Vijay's fall to Herath in the 76th over of the innings but the damage was already done for the visitors. Skipper Virat Kohli came in to bat next and joined the party immediately. The right-handed batsman struck another fine half-century and went unbeaten at 54.
With the pitch not offering any assistance to the bowlers, the Sri Lankan attack looked pedestrian at best as the seasoned Indian duo scored runs easily without even taking any undue risks.
The Pujara-Vijay combination has been a nemesis for bowlers in the Indian sub-continent with their 10th century stand in longest version.
14th Test 100 for @cheteshwar1 and 4th vs Sri Lanka #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/OSglC0nRVd
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
Vijay has hit eleven boundaries and a six off 221 deliveries. Another satisfying piece of statistic is that Vijay-Pujara pair score at an average of 73 runs per partnership -- highest among all Indian pairs across Test cricket.
Vijay teed off with a glorious square drive off Eden Test hero Suranga Lakmal (0/58 in 18 overs), who was far from his best with conditions not aiding his kind of bowling.
For someone who plays the drive fluently, Vijay was time and again provided with loose half-volleys, both outside the off-stump and on his legs for him to make full use of them.
1000 Test runs for @cheteshwar1 in the year 2017 #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/L1NCff9bHA
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
The shot with which Vijay brought up his half-century was a picture perfect straight drive off Dasun Shanaka. There was a lot of time at India's disposal and that's why the batsmen were in no hurry but still managed to comfortably score their runs.
Having scored 86 runs in the first session off 31 overs, the Indians scored 88 runs off 26 overs in the post-lunch period.
Dinesh Chandimal's decision to bring in his spinners hardly yielded any different result as both the Indian batsman looked comfortable reaching to the pitch of the deliveries and nullifying any help that they could have possibly got off the pitch.
.@mvj888 celebrates as he brings up his 10th Test ton. This is his first against Sri Lanka #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/fBqe3TqaCA
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 25, 2017
When Rangana Herath (1/45 in 24 overs) flighted one inviting Pujara to come out, he promptly did so by flicking it to the vacant mid-wicket boundary.
Pujara's straight drive off Lakmal was regal as he hit nine fours during the 183 deliveries he faced. Vijay on his part gave Herath the charge, hitting him for a straight six. He completed his hundred with a push towards long-off of Dilruwan Perera's bowling. He achieved the landmark in 187 deliveries.
Dilruwan (0/117 in 21 overs) could hardly turn a ball and leaked more than a hundred runs. Worse, he was stationed at short mid-on for a specific uppish drive.
Vijay did fall into the trap trying to flick Lahiru Gamage and the ball flew towards Dilruwan, who couldn't pouch onto the chance.
The Tamil Nadu opener was batting on 61 then. There wasn't a single wicket-taking delivery from the Lankan attack as they could hardly beat the bat.
With no lateral movement on offer and the pitch offering reasonable good bounce and carry, stroke-play became relatively easier.
The fuller length deliveries did not seem to work for the Lankan bowlers while the trio of Lakmal, Shanaka (0/47 in 23 overs) and Lahiru Gamage (1/33 in 16 overs) did not have enough pace to trouble the Indian batsmen when they hit back of the length.
(With inputs from PTI)
