Vijay, Pujara steer India to 160/1 at tea against Australia

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Opener Murali Vijay and number three batsman Cheteshwar Pujara batted with a lot of purpose in the post-lunch session as India reached 160 for one at tea on the second day of the second cricket Test here today.

Both Vijay and Pujara hit attractive half-centuries with an approach which was in complete contrast to their style of batting in the first session.

At tea, Vijay and Pujara were batting on 73 each, having added 143 runs for the unbroken second wicket stand. Having scored only 49 runs in the 27 overs bowled during the first session, the two Indian batsmen came out with a far more positive approach as they smashed 106 runs in 33 overs during the post lunch session.

If the first session was about consolidation, the second session was all about attacking the visiting team bowlers. Both Pujara and Vijay hit a flurry of boundaries with Aussie bowlers suddenly dishing out pedestrian stuff from the disciplined and accurate bowling during the first session.

While Vijay hit 10 boundaries and a six, Pujara also matched him stroke for stroke hitting James Pattinson for three boundaries in one over. If Vijay’s cover-driving was delightful to watch, Pujara standing tall and square cutting the rising deliveries outside the off-stump with a lot of ferocity.

Australia’s plan to play with left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty and IPL’s ‘Million Dollar Boy’ Glenn Maxwell didn’t work well. Both the batsmen used their feet appreciably as the spinners failed to extract any turn and bounce. The pitch was also easy for batting.