England in trouble after Pujara double

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Cheteshwar Pujara scored an unbeaten double ton to put India in complete control of the first Test against England at the Sardar Patel Stadium here in Motera on Friday. The hosts declared in the evening session at 521/8.

Without wasting time Mahendra Singh Dhoni opened the attack with off-spinner R. Ashwin. The Tamil Nadu youngster struck immediately after changing ends to castle opener Nick Compton. This was
Ashwin’s 50th Test wicket in his ninth Test. He became the quickest Indian to reach the landmark, surpassing Anil Kumble who reached 50 wickets in 10 matches.

Pragyan Ojha dismissed night-watchman James Anderson and Jonathan Trott failed to keep Ashwin’s off-break down while trying to defend. The Indian spinners kept asking questions to the nervy England batsmen, giving clear indications what is to come on a slowly deteriorating wicket. England who spent 640 minutes in the field, will need to bat well to save the game from here. They were 41/3 at stumps on day two in 18 overs with skipper Alastair Cook (22) and Kevin Piet­ersen (6) at the crease.

Earlier, resuming the day at 323/4, Pujara (206, 389b, 21x4) resuming on 98 reached his second Test hundred. Pujara was involved in two productive stands on the second day to help India get well past 500. He erected a 130-run stand with Yuvraj Singh (74, 151b, 6x4, 2x6) for the fifth wicket and a further 66 with Ashwin (23) for the seventh wicket.

Pujara’s overnight partner, Yuvraj got into the groove with a straight six off Swann followed by a boundary on the on-side. The Punjab left-hander, celebrated his Test comeback with a fluent half century. Yuvraj’s last 50 plus score was also against against England in July 2011 in Nottingham.

India went to lunch at 410/4. Yuvraj greeted Samit Patel with a four over midwicket to bring his eleventh Test fifty. He eventually fell to same bowler after lunch, hammering a full toss to long on and Swann completed a running catch. Swann (5/144) completed a five-wicket haul by castling Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5).

After tea, Ashwin was caught behind by Matt Prior off Kevin Pietersen after playing a good hand.
Zaheer Khan was the only Indian wicket that fell to a seamer, after he was smartly caught by Jonathan Trott off James Anderson. Pujara completed his first double ton with a single off Anderson in 374 balls and was on 206 when Dhoni decided to declare the innings.