The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Pujara in terrific touch

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Thursday, Feb 03, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Pujara in terrific touch

By Our Special Correspondent

JAMSHEDPUR, FEB. 2. The Indian Colts, riding on Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 162, made 283 for two on the opening day of the third and final `Test' against England under-19 at the Keenan Stadium here on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Class XII student from Rajkot produced some fine strokes to reach his career-best international score with the help of 20 boundaries. He played with assurance on a wicket tailormade for batting and against some innocuous bowling.

Solid foundation

Apart from Pujara's innings, the other highlight of the day was his 135-run association for the first wicket with Assam's Pervez Aziz. The openers laid the foundation for the Indian Colts' quest for completing a whitewash after winning the Bangalore and Kolkata Tests.

At close, vice-captain and Bengal all-rounder Manoj Tewari was unbeaten on 26. The only other wicket to fall was that of Azar Bilakia, who fell leg-before to Griffiths.

India fielded nine new faces, dropping new ball bowler Abid Nabi who was unfit. England made two changes, bringing in Steven Mullaney and wicket-keeper John Simpson for William Gifford and Mark Lawson. Thomas Smith, who was scheduled to play, fell ill.

The scores:

India — 1st innings: C. Pujara (batting) 162, P. Aziz c Griffiths b Denly 58, A. Bilakia lbw b Griffiths 22, Manoj Tewari (batting) 26; Extras (lb-2, nb-13) 15; Total (for two wkts. in 90 overs) 283.

Fall of wickets: 1-135, 2-196.

England bowling: Griffiths 15-4-47-1, Miller 13-3-26-0, Harrison 18-6-31-0, Ali 3-0-23-0, Stokes 10-2-32-0, Harmison 10-1-28-0, Mullaney 4-0-17-0, Denly 17-3-77-1.

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