Pujara And Vijay Make Australia Suffer

Pujara And Vijay Make Australia Suffer

Pujara's unbroken second-wicket stand with Murali Vijay is already a record-breaking one.

©REUTERS/Vivek Prakash. Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 237-9 (Clarke 91) v
India 311-1 (Pujara 162no)
Second Test, Hyderabad, day two
Scorecard | Day One
Report by Chetan Narula in Hyderabad

India assumed firm control of the second Test versus Australia, at Hyderabad, after brilliant hundreds from both Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. The duo helped their side finish at 311 for one at stumps on day two at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. 

The day belonged to them entirely after Virender Sehwag (6) fell early in the first session of play. He departed after edging Peter Siddle (one for 51) behind the wicket, their only success in three sessions. Together, they stitched together a 294-run partnership for the second wicket as India took a lead of 74 runs. Their stand overtook the record set against Australia in 1986, by Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath who scored 224 at Sydney. 

After the fall of Sehwag’s wicket, the two batsmen became very watchful and as a result, only 49 runs were scored in 27 overs in the pre-lunch session. It made the pitch seem a little monstrous, and the Aussie bowling discipline was good. But in the next two sessions, 257 runs came along as both Vijay and Pujara motored towards their hundreds. 

Vijay scored 129 runs off 288 balls, with 17 fours and two sixes, which was only his second Test ton. But his partner had already raced past him earlier, getting to his fourth Test hundred, and finishing the day on 162 runs off 251 balls, with 25 fours and one six. 

Australia's bowlers had to toil hard and their two-spinners failed to bring up any wickets. Xavier Doherty (none for 85) finished wicketless in 26 overs as did Maxwell (none for 55) in his ten.  James Pattinson finished with none for 56 in his eighteen overs, while Moises Henriques bowled nineteen for none for 38. Even David Warner bowled an over but was smashed for 14 runs. Skipper Michael Clarke chose not to bowl himself. 

© Cricket World 2013