Vijay, Pujara lead India's fightback with tons

Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara led India's determined response to England's mammoth first innings total of 537 as they struck dogged hundreds to guide the hosts to 319/4 on the third day of the first cricket Test here today.
Showing great fortitude in the face of a daunting challenge, Vijay played a typically gritty innings of 126 in 301 balls, while one-down batsman Pujara compiled a more aggressive 124 in 206 balls.
The duo forged a huge second-wicket stand of 209 to help India give an apt reply to England's massive first innings score of 537.
England fought back late in the day by dismissing the well-set Vijay, who hit 9 fours and 4 sixes in his marathon 485-minute innings, and night watchman Amit Mishra (0) in the space of four balls.

At stumps, India had replied with 319 for four, still 218 runs behind the visitors' tally with six wickets in hand on a track that showed some signs of wear and tear but did not hold many terrors for the Indian batsmen.
The post-tea dismissals of the well-entrenched Pujara and Vijay, five minutes before close, and then Mishra off the last ball, has given big hopes to the visitors to apply pressure on the hosts tomorrow.

Pujara was out chasing a wide ball from Ben Stokes while Vijay and Mishra were dismissed by Adil Rashid and Zafar Ansari respectively.
But unless India suffer a dramatic collapse, the game looks headed for a tame draw.

Today, the Rajkot-born Pujara was the more aggressive batsman in the second-wicket pair in his home venue and notched up his ninth Test hundred overall in his 39th Test. His innings was laced with 17 hits to the fence.
Vijay, on the other hand, was not averse to playing the second fiddle to Pujara. The duo had previously compiled five three-figure stands, including a mammoth 370 against Australia in the Hyderabad Test three years ago. Today's stand was also their second in excess of 200.
Vijay also carried on bravely after taking a nasty knock on his knee from Chris Woakes after completing his hundred.

The way the second-wicket duo complemented each other was an indication of how well they jelled together today and in the past with different styles of batting.
(REOPENS DEL 39)
Shakib, who was instrumental in stemming the first session rot, went on the counter smashing his way to 82 off only 103 balls before his indiscretion landed the visitors in trouble.
Once Shakib was dismissed, the visitors quickly lost another wicket with Shabbir (16) being trapped leg before by Jadeja.
Well set and looking good for a century, Shakib couldn't properly connect a lofted shot after giving Ashwin the charge with Umesh Yadav gleefully accepting the easiest of catches at mid-on.

His balance was all awry, he didn't reach to the pitch of the delivery and above all the situation didn't warrant that shot with 107 runs already being added by him and other senior pro Rahim.
Bangladesh dressing room would have felt good about the session as both the senior players looked comfortable hitting some good shots but Shakib's dismissal robbed them of claiming a session which could rightfully have been theirs.
Shakib's shot selection has been a talking point despite his immense abilities as an all-rounder. Some of the imperious cover drives off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yadav were a treat for the eyes. He also attacked Jadeja slogging him to the cow corner.

He got an able ally in Mushfiqur, who kept the scorecard busy with his ramp shot off Ishant and the dabs off both Jadeja and Ashwin with an occasional cut shot.
Earlier Yadav (2/61 in 15 overs) rattled Bangladesh batsmen with pace while Ishant Sharma got some reverse swing going his way as the visitors were left losing three wickets in the pre-lunch session.
The first session of the third day certainly belonged to Umesh, who worked up good pace for a consistent period of time.
The only batsman who had looked comfortable was Tamim Iqbal (25) and he was unfortunately run-out after a horrible mix-up with Mominul Haque (12). The miscommunication while going for the second run became Tamim's undoing as he could add only a run to his overnight score.

Mahmudullah Riyadh (28) and Mominul both were distinctly uncomfortable as Virat Kohli always employed the pace-spin attack from both ends.
After Umesh bowled a three overs from the pavilion end (Shivlal Yadav End), Kohli clevery switched him to the far end (VVS Laxman) end from which he bowled another six overs at a stretch.
He continuous troubled both Mominul and Mahmudullah for a considerable period of time with his outswingers. After bowling a number of outswingers, he got one to comeback sharply into Mahmudullah, which trapped him in-front. India went for a DRS but it was an umpires' call despite the delivery grazing the leg stump.

But Umesh didn't lose heart and left-hander Mominul got a
Fuller delivery that came in after pitching. The umpire promptly adjudged leg before and the batsman didn't even take a review.
It was a testimony to Umesh's stamina that his pace never dropped during the nine overs that he bowled in the morning.
Mahmudullah and Shakib then added 45 runs during which they played a few drives and also got their share of streaky boundaries in between.
But right-hander Mahmudullah was never in control during his stay.
Once Kohli decided to rest Umesh and Jadeja, he introduced Ishant and Ashwin from either ends.

With the 'SG Test' now being 30 plus overs old and the team having maintained the shine, it was time for the lanky Ishant to get it to reverse and hit that length close to full which makes life difficult for the batsman.
Mahmudullah, who looked like a walking wicket, got one that darted in sharply with hint of reverse as Mahmudullah was beaten. The umpire adjudged the batsman leg before and he went for a review which didn't work in his favour.
India however lost their second DRS when Ashwin had got one to straighten enough beating Shakib's bat but it was ruled not out.