Brave Pujara’s unbeaten ton keeps India’s chances alive
No 3 batsman’s 132*and Kohli’s mark help visitors take slender 27run lead
SOUTHAMPTON:CHETESHWAR Pujara ended an almost five-year wait for a century outside the sub-continent, and the Indian dressing room will be grateful of his timing to come good with the team in dire need of redeeming act in the fourth Test at the Ageas Bowl.
The India No 3 scored only his second Test outside the sub-continent, ending his wait since a 153 at Johannesburg on the 2013-14 tour, marking a turnaround in a career that has seen more dips than highs since then.
Pujara’s sheer tenacity made the difference between India taking a handy 27-run first innings lead, having dismissed England for 246 on Day 1, and completely throwing away the advantage set up by their bowlers.
The almost six-hour effort would have gone on – he was 132 not out when India were 273 all out – but for India’s lower order batsmen throwing away wickets, none more shocking than R Ashwin playing on to the stumps attempting a reverse-sweep against off-spinner Moeen Ali when he had to back his partner.
England were six for no loss in their second innings.
Moeen made a sensational Test comeback, triggering a lower order collapse with four wickets in 17 deliveries, finishing with 5/63. It was his eight-wicket haul, including six in the second innings, which led to an India defeat here four years ago.
It dashed Indian hopes of a decent first innings lead on a track where batting last will be a big disadvantage. Moeen had his five-for when he had Ishant Sharma caught off bat and pad, but the No 10, as he always does, had given Pujara vital support with a 27-ball 14, helping him close in on his 15th century.
Pujara farmed the strike with last man Jasprit Bumrah, and his heart was in his mouth when England reviewed a leg before decision off Moeen. He lofted Moeen for a couple to reach his century, rewarding for a player who values grinding it out.
It was a brave effort by Pujara, who scored 72 in Trent Bridge. A packed crowd had come to see England fightback and they got their money’s worth. But those hoping for another Virat Kohli special were only half satisfied. Kohli, coming in after scoring two centuries and fifties each, became the second-fastest Indian to complete 6,000 Test runs. Needing six at the start of his 119th innings, he got there behind Sunil Gavaskar (117 innings) but faster than Sachin Tendulkar (120 innings).