Pujara holds out as India struggle in rain-hit Test

CheteshwarPujara stood firm against a relentless Sri Lankan pace attack as Indiastumbled to 74-5 before rain washed out the second day of the first Testbefore lunch yesterday. Fast bowler Dasun Shanaka struck twice on acloudy morning session at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens as the hosts struggledto build on their overnight 17-3. Pujara, on 47, andwicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha, on six, were at the crease whenrain arrived before lunch, preventing play for the rest of the day. Thecontinued adverse weather meant only 21 overs were played yesterday,after just 11.5 overs were completed the previous day.Pujara’sovernight partner Ajinkya Rahane became Shanaka’s first victim, caughtbehind 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 at50-5.Pujara, starting the day on eight, hit out when he could,finding the boundary nine times during his 102-ball stay so far. SriLanka coach Nic Pothas lauded “world class” Pujara for his gritty knock,saying the batsman’s county experience helped him master the seamingconditions.Pujara, who signed up with English county sideNottinghamshire in May, presents himself as a classical batsman in theage of Twenty20 cricket. “He is obviously a world class player. Thatinnings just showed you the benefits of him playing county cricket,”Pothas told reporters.“That is genuinely a wicket that you will findin 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. Itis obviously very very challenging batting conditions we are hopingthings go our way,” the former South African player added.MeanwhileSuranga Lakmal, who took three wickets in six maiden overs on Thursday,conceded his first runs after 46 balls to return figures of 3-5. Hisvictims on day one included India skipper Virat Kohli.India’sfielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar believes the Indian seamers willalso relish bowling in these conditions. “It was fabulous to see so muchof lateral movement and swing Lakmal and his fellow bowlers werepurchasing from this wicket,” said Sridhar. “Hopefully (Mohammed) Shamiand Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) would relish the challenge. This Test candefinitely get a result in 270 overs, should we get that. If the weatherclears out, it would be really interesting going by the conditions ofthis Test,” he said.