Unbeaten Pujara takes India to 371/5 at lunch
Cheteshwar Pujara touched 150, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni notched up a half-century as India continued to dominate against New Zealand, piling up 371 for five in their first innings at lunch on the second day of their opening Test here on Friday.
The hosts, playing their first match after the retirement of veterans Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, kept going strong with Pujara carrying on from where he left on Thursday.
The youngster was unbeaten on 151 (282 balls, 18x4, 1x6) at the break.
Dhoni gave fine support at the other end, completing his 25th Test half-century to be not out on 61 from 107 balls (5x4, 1x6).
The start of the match was delayed by 26 minutes because of bad weather this morning.
The duo were engaged in a 111-run undefeated sixth wicket partnership at lunch as India looked to have the match firmly in control.
India returned to the Test format after a break of more than seven months following their eight successive defeats in England and Australia.
Resuming at 307 for five, India started the second day's proceedings watchfully with Kiwi pacer Trent Boult bowling a maiden over to Dhoni.
The Indian skipper took 20 balls to score his first runs of the day.
Dhoni was troubled by Kiwi pacers Chris Martin and Boult on more than one occasion but the skipper held on to the crease.
Unbeaten on 119, his maiden century in four Tests, Pujara cleverly rotated the strike.
Doug Bracewell, who went out after a muscle cramp in the final session on Thursday, returned to action but the Indians negotiated the Kiwi seamers without any difficulty.
Dhoni slowly inched towards his half-century with a boundary of Bracewll in deep square-leg that took the skipper to 49.
He then completed his 25th half-century, flicking the same bowler towards deep midwicket to get to the mark from 100 balls.
Soon, Pujara got to the individual milestone of 150 pulling Bracewell through fine leg as he kept going strong becoming the backbone of India's innings.
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