Ind vs Nz : 1st Test 1st Day : Pujara’s ton keeps India on top against New Zealand
Hyderabad : Cheteshwar Pujara stamped his class on comeback with a maiden Test century that helped India to recover from a shaky start and reach 307 for five in the first innings against New Zealand on the first day of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Uppal, Thursday.
Pujara was batting on 119 with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 29 at the stumps, having added 47 runs for the unbroken sixth-wicket partnership.
Pujara has long been considered as the perfect replacement for Dravid. Pujara showed impeccable technique and composure as he came out to bat at the No.3, the position in which Dravid batted for more than a decade.
Pujara’s knock strengthened the Indian innings after Dhoni opted to bat first. Opening batsmen Gautam Gambhir (22) and Virender Sehwag (47) added 49 runs for the first wicket.
But the two openers departed playing loose shots. Gambhir chased an outgoing delivery while Sehwag, who was dropped on 35, also failed to convert a fine start as he edged Doug Bracewell’s away going delivery to second slip.
Sachin Tendulkar failed as he was bowled out for 19, leaving India at 125 for three. Pujara and Virat Kohli (58) then rescued India with their 125-run stand for the fifth wicket.
Kohli’s innings was cut short by a poor shot as he was caught at the second slip by Guptill for 58.
Meanwhile, Pujara moved from 95 to 99 with a classy four that went through the point. He completed his maiden century with a single off James Franklin.
While Pujara made the most of the opportunity, Suresh Raina (3) failed again. It was then left to Pujara and Dhoni to see the day through without any further loss.
Update at Lunch
India were 97 for two at lunchon the first day of the first cricket test against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here.
Electing to bat after captain M.S. Dhoni won the toss, the hosts lost both their openers before Pujara and Sachin Tendulkar denied the Kiwis a further breakthrough.
Pujara (12) and Tendulkar (12) were batting with caution after Virender Sehwag fell in the 15th over to a poor shot. The opener tried to dab a short of length delivery of Dough Bracewell but was held on by Martin Guptil in the second slip.
Sehwag, who got two lives, failed to control himself. His breezy knock of 47 off 41 balls included nine fours. He was dropped by Flynn in the ninth over off Martin. It was a tough chance for the fielder at square leg.
The opener got another life in the 13th over when a thick outside edge off Bracewell flew past to the boundary between wicketkeeper Van Wyk and skipper Ross Taylor. The two waited for each other to try. Earlier, in the same over Sehwag had struck two delightful boundaries.
For the visitors, Boult drew the first blood when he had Gautam Gambhir caught behind by Van Wyk in the 10th over of the innings. Gambhir too fell trying a poor shot off Boult. His knock of 22 include four hits to the fence.
After the fall of Sehwag, the Kiwi bowlers tried to put further pressure on India but Tendulkar and Pujara played with caution and prevented further damage. In fact, Tendulkar hit his first boundary in the last over before the lunch, after facing 38 balls. Pujara was more cautious with his 12 off 32 includes no boundary.
For the Black Caps, the seamers tried their best to make use of the swing in the initial overs. Boult and Bracewell were successful with a wicket eacch.
1st Day at 10:30 AM : India 1st Inning :51/1 in 11.5 Overs at 4.31 Run Rate
Teams:
India: Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Cheteshawar Pujara, Suresh Raina, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicketkeeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha and Umesh Yadav.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Brendan McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor (captain), Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Kruger van Wyk (wicketkeeper), Doug Bracewell, Jeetan Patel, Chris Martin and Trent Boult.
