Hyderabad: Opener Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara decimated the Australian attack with scintillating centuries as India took complete control of the second cricket Test, here on Sunday.
Pujara (162 batting) notched up his fourth Test hundred and Vijay (129 batting) scored his second ton as the record second-wicket partnership of 294 runs took India to a comfortable 311 for one, at close on the second day.
The duo eclipsed the stand of 224 against Australia set by Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath in 1986 at Sydney.
Having already secured a lead of 74 runs, India will target a massive one, which will take batting fourth on this track out of the equation.
India scored only 49 runs in the 27 overs bowled during the opening session but the two Indian batsmen came out with a far more positive approach as they smashed 257 runs in the next two.
If the first session was about consolidation, the next two sessions were about attacking the bowlers. Both Pujara and Vijay hit a flurry of boundaries with the Aussie bowlers suddenly dishing out pedestrian stuff compared to the disciplined and accurate bowling of the first session.
Once they went off the boil, there was no looking back for the Indians. As the day progressed, Australia’s bowlers were sent into an absolute leather hunt.
Vijay struck 17 fours and two sixes in 288 balls. Pujara hit 25 fours and also hooked Peter Siddle for a six to bring up his 150, having faced 251 balls in the process.
The Saurashtra lad stood tall and square as he cut the rising deliveries outside the off-stump with a lot of ferocity.
Although both batsmen adhered to the tried and tested theory of giving the first session to the bowlers, Pujara looked much more composed and assured in comparison to Vijay’s safety-first approach.
That may had to do with Pujara being in good form and he is slowly and surely making Rahul Dravid’s batting slot his own, while the talented Vijay knows only too well that chances may dry up in near future.
Vijay was impressive as he curbed his natural instinct of going for flashy strokes until he was set.
In the final session, while both started on 73, Pujara suddenly raced ahead as he hit five boundaries in quick time to reach the 90s. A late cut for a couple of runs off Glenn Maxwell brought up his fourth Test hundred in 188 balls.
Vijay reached his second Test ton in 245 balls and the relief was palpable on his face as his celebration was far more emotional than the muted one by Pujara.
Australia’s plan to play with left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty (0-85 in 26 overs) and IPL’s ‘Million Dollar Boy’ Maxwell (0-55 in 10 overs) backfired badly.
Both batsmen used their feet well as the spinners failed to extract any turn and bounce.
Maxwell, in particular, was easy meat for Vijay and Pujara as he not only bowled short but also didn’t get his off-breaks to turn as much as Nathan Lyon did.
Vijay hit a couple of big sixes – one each off Doherty over long-off and the second off Maxwell over the deep mid-wicket boundary.
Earlier, Peter Siddle got the only wicket of the day by removing an out-of-form Virender Sehwag (6).
But the Aussie pace trio of Siddle, James Pattinson and all-rounder Moises Henriques kept things under control as India went into lunch at 54 for one.
Just 23 minutes into the second day, Sehwag was dismissed by Siddle with a rising delivery. The pacer hit a three-quarter length and got the ball to rear up awkwardly and also moved a shade, kissing the edge of Sehwag’ bat as Matthew Wade took the catch.
In his last six innings Sehwag has made: 23, 49, 0, 2, 19 and 6. A total of 99 runs at a dismal average of just 16.50. (PTI)