Rustenburg (South Africa): Skipper Cheteshwar Pujara led by an example as he smashed a scintillating 140 on the first day of the unofficial Test against South Africa A here on Saturday. Pujara knitted a brilliant partnership of 176 runs with Rohit Sharma which allowed India to finish off with 3/281 at the end of the first day’s play.
Pujara smacked as much as 17 boundaries in his innings that lasted 205-ball and was very well complemented by Sharma, who scored crucial 70 runs to shape the Indian innings really well in the four-day match.
Earlier in the day, Pujara won the toss and chose to bat first. Shikhar Dhawan played cautiously in the early phase of the game and avoided committing mistakes. But after that initial grilling, he couldn’t hold on and departed after scoring 11 runs off Simon Harmer's bowl.
After that Pujara added 66 runs for the second-wicket with Murali Vijay. Vijay was looking in great touch from the moment he started the proceedings. He scored 44 runs during his stay of two hours at the crease and also scored six fours and a six. He was rattled by Andrew Birch when he had him caught by Harmer at second slip in the 38th over.
Pujara and Sharma responded to the situation really well and started dealing in ones and twos with the odd boundaries on the loose balls. By the tea time, game was very much in balance as India A walked off with 2/147.
Their initial grinding in the previous session allowed them to settle down quickly and after that they started maneuvering the Proteas bowling attack by smacking boundaries at regular intervals. In the 73rd over, both the middle-order batsmen reached their personal landmark as they completed their century and half-century. First it was Sharma who brought up his fifty with a single and was followed by Pujara who managed to pull off a double.
Both the batsmen picked up seven boundaries each and scored 123 runs between them.
Pujara was finally dismissed when he played and missed a delivery from Wayne Parnell in the 84th over as India A were reduced to 270 for three.
After his dismissal, Rohit took the guard and made sure that he gets his team out of this trouble. He remained unbeaten on 70 and has played 159 balls, including eight fours and a six.
At stumps, Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane (11) were at the crease.
Brief Scores- India A - 3/ 281 (Rohit Sharma 70*, Ajinkya Rahane 11*, Chetashwar Pujara 140, Murali Vijay 44, Shikhar Dhawan 11, Andrew Birch 1/42, Wayne Parnell 1/47, Simon Harmer 1/88)