Pujara, Rahane centuries put India in control
India were 344-3 at stumps on the first day of second Test against Sri Lanka on Thursday.
COLOMBO (AFP) - Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane hit centuries as India took opening day honours on 344-3 at stumps against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo on Thursday.
Pujara (128) and Rahane (103) put on an unbeaten 211-run partnership for the fourth wicket to thwart Sri Lankan bowlers who struck two crucial blows in the afternoon session.
The in-form Pujara registered his 13th Test century in his landmark 50th game as Rahane fired his ninth Test hundred.
The visitors, who lead the three-match series 1-0, wobbled slightly when Lokesh Rahul went for 57 and skipper Virat Kohli followed for 13 soon after lunch.
Rahul, who scored his eighth Test fifty despite only just recovering from a virus, was run out in a mix-up with Pujara.
"I was disappointed because I have been away from the game so long and I didn t want to get out at all," he told reporters at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.
He said knowing the team was waiting for his return post recovery "made a big difference and I came back with a lot more confidence".
"The pitch was on the slower side and would turn as the Test went on," he added.
Veteran left-arm spinner spinner Rangana Herath sent Kohli trudging back to the pavilion with a tossed-up delivery that got the edge of the captain s bat and went to slip.
Pujara and Rahane ground out the runs to deny Dinesh Chandimal s side any more wickets during the day.
Pujara, who scored 153 in the first innings of the opening Test, hit 10 fours and a six.
Rahane also tackled the spinners with aplomb, using his feet to great effect during his 168-ball stay at the crease so far.
Sri Lanka s interim coach Nic Pothas praised Rahane for his gritty knock but conceded the squad didn t maintain pressure on the world s top Test team.
"Rahane came and played very well. From that point onwards we didn t perhaps execute as well as we had done up to that point," said the former South Africa player.
"We just released the pressure a little bit. That was the turning session. India got momentum back. This is the day one and it s Test match cricket. It s about how you bounce back."
In the morning session, off-spinner Dilruwan Perera had Shikhar Dhawan trapped lbw for 35 after the tourists elected to bat first.
Debutant left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was still searching for his first Test scalp as paceman Nuwan Pradeep had to leave the field due to a suspected pulled hamstring.
The hosts need at least a draw to stay alive in the series.
