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29 March 2024

Ind v Aus 2nd Test: Pujara, Vijay rule

Published
By Allaam Ousman

Australia were sent on a leather hunt by India on the second day thanks to magnificent unbeaten centuries from Murali Vijay (129) and Cheteshwar Pujara (162) during a record stand of 294 for the unbroken fifth wicket.

India are 311-1 at close after 92 overs continuing from their overnight 5-0 in reply to Australia's first innings total of 237-9 declared on the second day of the second Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

CLICK HERE FOR 'LIVE' REPORT OF DAY THREE

It was another Super Sunday for India with MS Dhoni having pulverised the Australian attack a week ago to score a memorable maiden Test double century during the first Test in Chennai.

India enjoy a lead of 74 runs with nine wickets in hand thanks to the dominating stand after losing Virender Sehwag in the fifth over of the day.

That was the only success for Australia who were made to toil for the rest of the day as Vijay and Murali began cautiously before opening out in the final two sessions.

The morning session ironically belonged to Australia who conceded only 49 runs in 27 runs and removed the dangerous Sehwag who edged a delivery from Siddle to be caught behind by Mathew Wade.

But their joy was shortlived as Vijay and Pujara patiently crafted their innings before launching an attack against the inexperienced Australian bowlers who rarely troubled them on a pitch which offered turn and bounce.

A total of 306 runs were scored during the day for the loss of one wicket with 151 of them coming in the final session with even the second new ball failing to stem the tidal wave.

Pujara went into overdrive after completing his century with his third fifty needing just 42 balls as he battled a knee injury to deal in boundaries. His knock of 162 off 251 balls contained 25 fours and one six.

Vijay was given a life on 71 by Clarke who failed to latch onto a sharp chance at slip off Doherty but it takes nothing away from his stylish knock of 129 off 288 balls which contained 17 fours and two sixes so far.

More significantly he complemented his partner beautifully especially when Pujara was struggling  with the injury as they unleashed an array of strokes on either side of the wicket after lunch.

EVENING SESSION

Murali Vijay brings up the 300 of the Indian innings with a couple before smashing Doherty to midwicket for a boundary.

Pujara has hooked a bouncer from Siddle for a six to backward square leg to pass the 150-mark.

Pujara has flicked Pattinson with his trademark wrist shot for another boundary to midwicket as Indian are driving home the advantage.

Runs continue flow unabated despite the second new ball taken with Pattinson coming in for some stick as Pujara virtually slams an uppercut to third man followed by a crunching off drive.

Pujara has edged Pattinson through the slips for another boundary to bring up the 250 partnership for the second wicket Vijay.

Pujara has punched Pattinson standing tall and driving him through the covers for the first runs with the second new ball.

Pattinson bowls a maiden in the first over with the second new ball to Pujara while Siddle also sends down a maiden to Vijay from the other end.

Australia have taken the second new ball with India on 262 for 1 after 82 overs and enjoying a lead of 25.

Runs continue to come thick and fast with Murali Vijay slamming a couple of boundaries to third man before the second new ball is due.

The hour after tea has produced 94 runs in 16 overs without any loss of wicket as India overhauled Australia's total of 237-9 declared with Vijay and Pujara featuring in a record stand for the second wicket against Australia surpassing the partnership between Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath in 1986.

Pujara brings up the 250 of the Indian innings in the 79th over feasting on part timer David Warner by whacking three boundaries off him.

Murali Vijay completes his second Test hundred by stepping out and lofting Maxwell inside out to long off and then celebrated it by steering him to point for another boundary.

Vijay's stylish century which came off 247 balls contained 14 fours and two sixes.

Pujara slashes Doherty for a boundary to third man.

Pujara has whipped Henriques nonchalantly to the midwicket fence to bring up the 200 partnership for the second wicket with Vijay off 399 balls.

Pujara completed his fourth Test century and first against Australia by scrambling for a couple despite being handicapped by a knee injury.

His second century in Hyderabad came off 188 balls and contained 14 hits to the ropes.

Murali Vijay has launched into Maxwell beginning with a six over mid wicket to bring up the 200 of the Indian innings in the 73rd over followed by a boundary to mid off.

Doherty has bowled a rare maiden over to Pujara.

Pujara has slammed yet another boundary off Maxwell cutting him past point.

Pujara is showing no signs of knee pain as he drives a widish delivery form Henriques through the covers for his 13th boundary.

Vijay has paddle swept Doherty for the second time for his 11th boundary.

Pujara flicks Doherty to square leg for another boundary as India completely dominate the Australian attack.

Pujara hits the first boundary after the tea interval pulling Henriques to the square leg while four leg byes brings up the 150 partnership with Vijay for the second wicket in 334 balls.

Siddle had a return of one for 51 while Pattinson has none for 56.

Henriques bowled economically having figures of 19-7-38-0 but spinner Doherty and Maxwell went for a combined total of 140 runs in 36 overs without success.

AFTERNOON SESSION

India trail by 77 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Pujara pulled Siddle to mid wicket for yet another boundary in the last over before tea with a spanking shot that mirrored India's domination in the afternoon session.

Both opener Murali Vijay and Pujara are unbeaten on 73 apiece having also hit 10 boundaries each so far during an unbroken second wicket stand of 143.

The afternoon has been the most productive for India yielding 106 runs in 33 overs without any loss.

Siddle has been the only successful bowler having figures of one for 41.

Henriques has been the most economical having figures of 11-5-13-0.

Spin duo Doherty and Maxwell bowled in tandem but without success though getting turn on a responsive pitch.

Vijay has rocked back and cut Doherty to cover point for his 10th boundary as runs continue to flow for India.

Left arm spinner Doherty sends down a maiden to Vijay in which he caused some concern to the batsman by getting prodigous

Pujara who is battling with muscle pain is dealing in boundaries easing another tossed up delivery from Maxwell to extra cover to overhaul his partner Vijay.

Pujara has stroked Maxwell through extra cover and mid off for his eighth boundary as he draws level with Vijay on 64.

Murali Vijay is pressing on the accelerator hitting a couple of boundaries off one over from Maxwell on either side of the wicket as India's deficit shrinks to 104.

Pujara (below) completed his second Test fifty by driving Maxwell through extra cover for his sixth boundary after facing 114 balls.


It also brought up the 100 partnership for the unbroken second wicket with Vijay which came off 254 balls.

Test debutant Glenn Maxwell has been introduced into the attack and bowls a maiden to Vijay.

India went on the offensive after lunch scoring 52 runs in 14 overs in the first hour without any mishap.

Murali Vijay brings up his third Test fifty and the 100 of the Indian innings in style by dancing down the track and lofting Doherty over mid off for a glorious six.

His half century which came off 141 balls also contained seven hits to the ropes.

Vijay (below) hits yet another boundary off Siddle flicking him through mid wicket as India are progressing merrily after lunch.

Pujara has executed a lovely late cut to the vacant third man boundary off Henriques.

Murali Vijay not to be outdone has punched Siddle through the covers to move into the 40s.

Pujara has stepped up the tempo of the innings hitting three boundaries in one over from Pattinson, including two in succession, with crunching off drives and gliding the third to third man.

Pattinson fired a maiden over to Pujara in the previous over but the batsman has taken the aerial route in the next over cutting a short delivery over gully for his first boundary after lunch and only his second of the innings.

Murali Vijay has scored the first boundary after lunch with an exquisite flick of the wrists off Siddle to mid wicket.

MORNING SESSION

Murali Vijay is unbeaten on 29 off 106 balls having hit four boundaries while Pujara is with him on h15 off 55 balls having added 37 runs for the unbroken second wicket.

India trail by 183 runs with nine wickets in hand having lost Virender Sehwag caught behind by Wade off Siddle in the fifth over of the day.



Australia kept the batsmen on a tight lease in the morning session which produced just 49 runs in 27 overs for the loss of one wicket.

Murali Vijay drives Pattinson exquisitely through extra cover to bring up the 50 of the Indian innings in the 29th over.

Murali Vijay comes out his shell to loft left arm spinner inside out for a boundary to extra cover.

Pujara survived a run out scare following a direct hit from David Warner as they scamper for a quick single.

India finally get some runs on the board helped by full tosses from Doherty which Pujara despatches for a couple of runs in successive deliveries.

Spin has been introduced for the first time as Xavier Doherty comes into the attack with India 35 for 1.

India are playing with caution after the departure of Sehwag early with Siddle sending down a maiden to Pujara followed by another maiden from Henriques to Vijay.

India have scored just 26 runs for the loss Sehwag in the first hour of play.

Moises Henriques has come into the attack replacing Pattinson who bowled four overs in the morning.

Cheteshwar Pujara has opened his account with a boundary clipping Siddle to square leg.

Murali Vijay has hit the second boundary of the morning also against Pattinson with a perfectly timed off drive to extra cover.

Siddle strikes in the fifth over the morning having Sehwag caught behind by Mathew Wade after making six off 19 ball with one boundary.

CLICK HERE TO READ ADVANTAGE INDIA ON DAY ONE

James Pattinson has sent down a maiden to Vijay.

Murali Vijay hits the first boundary of the second morning steering Pattinson over the slip cordon to third man.

India will resume on 5 for no loss in reply to Australia's first innings total of 237-9 declared on the second day of the second Test at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay survived three hostile overs from James Pattinson and Peter Siddle before the close on the first day.