IND vs SL, 2nd Test, Day 2, Review: Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara annihilate Sri Lanka

India continued to dominate Sri Lanka on the second day as well in the ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka at VCA Stadium in Nagpur. The centuries from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara put India in a comfortable after which Virat Kohli joined in the fun and eked out to some easy runs available. However, India finished the day strongly and would look to extend their lead on the third day by batting the opposition out of the game.

The duo of Pujara and Vijay strode out to the middle in the morning with an aim to pile on the agony on the Lankan bowlers. But Dinesh Chandimal and his men came out with a plan to keep a lid on the scoring rate. They tested the patience of the batsmen which did not work out for them unfortunately as Pujara is the epitome of that and the comeback man had to make his opportunity count. They blunted every bowler who came their way and tired them out until lunch. Vijay though looked to score consistently than his partner.

Sri Lanka had themselves to blame for the missed opportunities created with some very good bowling. Murali Vijay was reprieved early in the 10th over of the day when he hit a delivery from Rangana Herath straight into the hands of forward short leg who dropped and straight away also missed a direct hit with the batsman well short of his crease. Also 26 overs later the same player was again dropped by Dilruwan Perera at short mid-on. He rode his luck and smashed 10th Test century with some amazing hitting during his knock.

Pujara notches up his 14th century

Vijay continued to concentrate and looked set for a big one but was surprisingly dismissed off a full toss by Herath. He top-edged a sweep shot and was furious with himself after getting out as the marathon partnership of 209 was finally broken. The wicket only brought in more agony for Sri Lanka as the ever set Virat Kohli came out to bat and upped the run-rate quickly looking in no trouble whatsoever. Meanwhile, Pujara notched up his 14th Test ton filled with loads of patience and concentration.

The Indian skipper also reached his 15th half-century in the longest format of the game. His urgency in the running also rubbed into the shoulders of his partner and the run-rate went past three for the first time late in the day. India finished the day with a lead of 107 runs and the scoreboard read 312/2 after 98 overs. While Pujara batted for a whole day once again like a daily routine and remained unbeaten on 121, Kohli eased his way to 54 looking good for yet another century.

Sri Lankan bowlers toiled hard but never threatened to take a wicket and could only scalp a solitary one that too off a full toss. Dilruwan Perera, in particular, looked all at sea and conceded at almost 6 runs an over in the 21 overs he bowled. Lahiru Gamage was impressive and well respected by the batsmen but he couldn’t add anything to his wickets tally after castling KL Rahul on the first day.

Another gruelling day awaits the visitors as the hosts would look to bat Sri Lankans out with a whopping lead in the first innings.

Brief Score

Sri Lanka 202/10 after 79.1 overs (D Chandimal 57, D Karunaratne 51); (R Ashwin 4/67, I Sharma 3/37, R Jadeja 3/56

India 312/2 after 108 overs (C Pujara 121*, M Vijay 128, V Kohli 54*); (R Herath 1/45, L Gamage 1/47)