India ride Pujara's 132* to post 273 on Day II
Southampton: England were six for no loss in their second innings at stumps on the second day of the fourth Test against India here.
India were all out for 273 in their first innings, taking a 27-run lead at the Rose Bowl.
England, who were all out for 246 in their first innings on Thursday, trailed by 21 runs with 10 wickets remaining.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored an unbeaten 132 to help India post 273 all-out in the first innings and take a 27-run lead on day 2 of the fourth Test at Rose Bowl Cricket Stadium.
Replying to England's 246, India rode Pujara's brilliantly paced essay which lasted 257 balls and was laced with 16 fours to get past England even after losing wickets in a hurry post lunch.
Along with skipper Virat Kohli (46), Pujara stitched together 92-run third wicket stand to lay the foundation and then joined hands with tailenders Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah for 32-run and 46-run associations, respectively.
Pujara slammed his 15th career Test century and first in England on day two of the fourth Test. It was a timely hundred by the Indian middle-order batsmen to help India recover from a horrifying batting collapse and eclipse England's first innings score of 246. India were some 50 runs away when they lost the eighth wicket and a handy lead looked likely for England. But a determined Pujara marshaled the tail and anchored the innings to help the visitors take a vital lead. It was also Pujara's fifth century away from home and second outside Asia.
But what stood out in his knock was the intent from the beginning. Be it in running or shot making, Pujara kept his game up through the day. The right-hander was also involved in several important partnerships during the Indian innings- 92 with skipper Virat Kohli and a crucial 29 with Ishant Sharma to ensure India stay in the game.
Incidentally, his 132 was also his fifth Test ton against England. Only three India batsmen have got more- Rahul Dravid (7), Sachin Tendulkar (7), Mohammad Azharuddin (6).
Skipper Virat Kohli (46), once again looked good for a big score before Sam Curran managed to draw him forward inducing a thickish outside edge to Alastair Cook in the slip cordon.
Kohli-Pujara added 92 runs for the third wicket after Shikhar Dhawan (23) and Lokesh Rahul (19) were dismissed cheaply by Stuart Broad (2/50).
Kohli's 71-ball knock had six boundaries.
However vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane (11) would consider himself unlucky as he was trapped leg before off a no-ball from Ben Stokes. The TV replays clearly showed that Stokes had overstepped but a howler from third umpire Joel Wilson became Rahane's undoing.
