The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Pujara, Jadeja make merry; Ashwin scalps five

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Pujara, Jadeja make merry; Ashwin scalps five

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

SPLENDID SHOW: Cheteshwar Pujara’s well-composed 132 took Saurashtra XI to a fighting total.

Chennai: Cheteshwar Pujara oozes class. The lad has composure, balance and timing. And he takes responsibility upon himself.

Pujara’s well-composed 132 (252b, 4x4, 3x6) enabled Saurashtra XI reach a fighting 357 for nine against TNCA XI in the allotted 90 overs on the first day of the Buchi Babu tournament final at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday.

Partnerships make an innings and the 189-run fourth-wicket stand — in 44.5 overs — between Pujara and a vibrant Ravindra Jadeja enabled Saurashtra XI recover from 112 for three. The total was a much healthier 301 for three when Jadeja (84, 133b, 8x4, 3x6) jumped out to off-spinner R. Ashwin and found his stumps rearranged.

Slow pitch

Ashwin bowled creditably on a slow pitch lacking bounce, picking up five wickets for 99 runs in 35 overs. He and his younger off-spinning partner M. Prabhu (three for 125) orchestrated Saurashtra XI’s collapse from 301 for three in 78.1 overs to 357 for nine. The host came back well on a long day under the scorching sun.

The Pujara-Jadeja association, however, had inflicted much damage on the home team by then. Both batsmen used their feet to Ashwin and Prabhu. Gradually, the close-in cordon disappeared.

Indeed, the TNCA XI ran into a roadblock against the right-left combination. Pujara’s straight six off Prabhu had the Saurashtra camp in raptures. When Prabhu shifted his line, Pujara dumped the off-spinner over the mid-wicket ropes.

Pujara blended offence — his cover-driving was pleasing too — with defence during his back-to-back tournament hundred; he milked the bowling and rotated the strike with 57 singles.

Costly miss

Paceman V. Yomahesh could have, however, consumed Pujara on 56 had N. Einstein been more alert at point. The miss could have a significant bearing on the result.

It was a good toss to win for Saurashtra XI and opener Sagar Jogiani’s 36 — he was nailed on the sweep by Prabhu — included nine boundaries. Senior batsman Sitanshu Kotak was just getting into his stride when he caught at slip off Ashwin.

Then, Pujara and Ashwin assumed centre-stage.

The scores (final): Sourashtra XI 357 for nine in 90 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 132, R. Jadeja 84, R. Ashwin five for 99) vs TNCA XI.

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