Cheteshwar
Pujara stood firm against a relentless Sri Lankan pace attack as India
stumbled to 74-5 before rain washed out the second day of the first Test
before lunch yesterday.
Fast bowler Dasun Shanaka struck twice on a
cloudy morning session at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens as the hosts struggled
to build on their overnight 17-3. Pujara, on 47, and
wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, on six, were at the crease when
rain arrived before lunch, preventing play for the rest of the day. The
continued adverse weather meant only 21 overs were played yesterday,
after just 11.5 overs were completed the previous day.
Pujara’s
overnight partner Ajinkya Rahane became Shanaka’s first victim, caught
behind for four after a tentative 21-ball stay at the crease. Shanaka,
playing just his second Test after his debut against England last year,
also got Ravichandran Ashwin for four, putting the hosts in trouble at
50-5.
Pujara, starting the day on eight, hit out when he could,
finding the boundary nine times during his 102-ball stay so far. Sri
Lanka coach Nic Pothas lauded “world class” Pujara for his gritty knock,
saying the batsman’s county experience helped him master the seaming
conditions.
Pujara, who signed up with English county side
Nottinghamshire in May, presents himself as a classical batsman in the
age of Twenty20 cricket. “He is obviously a world class player. That
innings just showed you the benefits of him playing county cricket,”
Pothas told reporters.
“That is genuinely a wicket that you will find
in England April-May. And he certainly played the conditions very well.
So far we have been pretty pleased of how we have gone about things. It
is obviously very very challenging batting conditions we are hoping
things go our way,” the former South African player added.
Meanwhile
Suranga Lakmal, who took three wickets in six maiden overs on Thursday,
conceded his first runs after 46 balls to return figures of 3-5. His
victims on day one included India skipper Virat Kohli.
India’s
fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar believes the Indian seamers will
also relish bowling in these conditions. “It was fabulous to see so much
of lateral movement and swing Lakmal and his fellow bowlers were
purchasing from this wicket,” said Sridhar. “Hopefully (Mohammed) Shami
and Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) would relish the challenge. This Test can
definitely get a result in 270 overs, should we get that. If the weather
clears out, it would be really interesting going by the conditions of
this Test,” he said.
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara plays a shot during the second day of first Test against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata yesterday. (AFP)