Another day, another big ton for Pujara

It was business as usual for Saurashtra. Such has been their dominance at home in the Ranji Trophy that an intimidating total and a big score from Cheteshwar Pujara have become synonymous with the Rajkot Muncipal Corporation ground.

It was business as usual for Saurashtra. Such has been their dominance at home in the Ranji Trophy that an intimidating total and a big score from Cheteshwar Pujara have become synonymous with the Rajkot Muncipal Corporation ground. In fact, at some level, there was an air of monotony to their first innings score of 643/4 and Pujara8217;s 173-ball 176.

But, tedious as the proceedings must have seemed to the Mumbai team, those at the ground are hardly likely to forget another extraordinary knock from the 20-year-old with a Bradmanesque scoring sequence this season. Pujara8217;s three triple tons have been followed by two big hundreds 8212; 189 against Punjab and 176 on Monday 8212; and that means his name will feature prominently in the selection committee meeting to pick the Test squad for the England series.

Things were relatively easy for Pujara, considering the solid platform set by openers Chirag Pathak 170 and Bhushan Chauhan 104. Despite playing with a slight fever, Pujara8217;s hunger for runs wasn8217;t quelled. His knock of 173 included 21 fours and two sixes and put him firmly on top of the Ranji Trophy run-getters8217; list, his tally standing at an impressive 675 from five innings.

Pujara8217;s 179-run partnership with Sitanshu Kotak 78 off 213 was the highlight of the day. They complemented each other well 8212; Kotak stonewalling from one end and Pujara continuing the free flow of runs from the other. Incidentally, the two had proved a hurdle for Mumbai last year as well at the Wankhede Stadium, joining hands to play a part in dumping Mumbai out of the quarter-finals.

Pujara8217;s effort on Monday was more creditable, considering the fact that Mumbai opted to bowl a negative leg-side line. 8220;It was hard to play as they were bowling a negative line and length. But I have been in good form and was able to keep the scoreboard ticking. A century against Mumbai is always a big thing. They come with a reputation and runs against them mean a certain confidence boost,8221; he said.

Confidence was at a premium in the Mumbai dressing room, though. The most experienced visiting bowlers 8212; Ramesh Powar and Sairaj Bahutule 8212; bowled 35 overs between them, but with both sticking to a negative line, chances of breakthroughs were slim.

With skipper Jaydev Shah 25 and Ravindra Jadeja 42 at the crease, it remains to be seen what Saurashtra8217;s plans will be on the third day. A declaration should be on the cards, but when exactly Shah decides to end Mumbai8217;s misery remains to be seen.

Sscoreboard

Saurashtra, 1st innings

C Pathak c Samant b Malvi 170

B Chauhan c Samant b Muzumdar 104

S Kotak c Samant b Malvi 78

C Pujara b Bahutule 176

R Jadeja batting 42

J Shah batting 25

Extras b 5, lb 7, w 5, nb 31 48

Total for 4 wkts, 177 overs 643

FoW: 1-275, 2-334, 3-513, 4-593

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Bowling: D Kulkarni 32-9-84-0; U Malvi 27-4-122-2; M Hussain 32-5-100-0; R Powar 41-5-141-0; S Bahutule 39-4-153-1; A Muzumdar 5-2-24-1; H Shah 1-0-7-0