Pujara comes good again

Colombo, August 4
Cheteshwar Pujara registered his second century of the series while Ajinkya Rahane also notched up a hundred as the duo laid the foundation for a massive first innings total in the second Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday. Pujara’s 50th Test turned out to be quite eventful for him as he nearly perished in the slip early in his innings and ran out opener KL Rahul before making amends with his burgeoning 211-run stand with Rahane.
Pujara, who also completed 4,000 Test runs in the process, was batting on 128 at stumps, his 13th Test century containing 10 boundaries and a pulled six off debutant spinner Malinda Pushpakumara. Rahane, who survived a couple of reviews, hit 12 boundaries in his fluent 103 not out, as India dominated the opening day of the contest to reach 344/3 at stumps.
Alarmingly for Sri Lanka, still smarting from their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Galle, lone frontline pacer Nuwan Pradeep left the field in the final session clutching his left hamstring.
Brisk start
India got off to a brisk start after skipper Virat Kohli opted to bat on a dry surface with Rahul, who sat out the Galle Test due to high fever, and Shikhar Dhawan scoring freely against a spin-heavy Sri Lankan attack. Dhawan clobbered Rangana Herath for a six in the spinner’s first over, besides smashing five boundaries in his brisk 35 before Dilruwan Perera trapped him leg-before. Rahul was on 19 when he was given out leg-before to Dimuth Karunaratne but he reviewed the decision successfully and went on to make his sixth successive Test half-century. He fell on 57 after a horrible mix-up with Pujara, and was soon joined by Kohli in the pavilion as India slumped to 133/3.
Pujara, who struck 153 in Galle, and Rahane, however, ensured Sri Lanka didn’t take control of the proceedings. Renowned for their impeccable temperament, the duo deftly used the crease to punish the Sri Lankan bowlers, who endured a wicketless final session.