Internet Desk: Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara batted exceedingly well in the second session as India posts 206 for two in their first innings at tea on the first day of the one-off Test match against Bangladesh at Rajiv Gandhi International stadium.
Murali Vijay (98) and Virat Kohli (17) were at the crease for the hosts, who decided to bat first. Cheteshwar Pujara missed out a big score as Mehedi Hasan dismissed him after a well made 83 runs by his name.
The intensity and the urgency to score quickly was evident as India scored as many as 120 runs in the second session of 31 overs during which Vijay sent the Bangladeshi bowlers packing.
Pujara, who was playing second fiddle to Vijay, will rue his luck as it was a soft dismissal with an outside edge being snapped up by skipper Mushfiqur Rahim with rookie off-spinner Mehedi Hasan Miraz being the gainer. Pujara hit nine boundaries in his patient 177 ball knock.
This was the seventh time that Vijay-Pujara were involved in a century stand and are now joint second along with Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid. The highest number of century partnerships is eight. It is jointly shared by Mohinder Amarnath-Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid-Virender Sehwag duos.
An easy pitch with a bowling attack lacking experience came to the fore as Bangladesh bowlers fizzled out post first hour. Save Taskin Ahmed, who showed a lot of heart on a slow track, the other bowlers including experienced Shakib Al Hasan lacked incisiveness and discipline to trouble a batting line-up that is very potent at home.
In the post lunch session, it was Vijay who launched an offensive by taking on opposition s best bet Shakib. The half-century came off a gorgeous cover drive.
Having hit Kamrul Islam Rabbi for three boundaries in the first session, the veteran Tamil Nadu opener again unleashed a pull shot with Rabbi using the short ball to no effect.
He reached his 70 s with a back cut and the down the ground six off Shakib. As he reached 90 s, he became a bit cautious not trying to complete the milestone before tea.
Earlier, opting to bat, India survived opener Lokesh Rahul s (2) first over dismissal but Vijay and Pujara ensured that there were no demons in it.
Rahul, whose scores hover between single and three digits in longer format, was bowled when he dragged a fuller delivery from Taskin while attempting a cover drive.
His new ball partner Rabbi worked up decent pace with his slinging action. Vijay and Pujara were initially cautious as only seven runs came off the first five overs.
The first boundary came in the sixth over bowled by Rabbi when Pujara opened the face of his bat to glide it past point region.
Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 206 for 2 in 58 overs(M Vijay 98*, C Pujara 83; Taskin Ahmed 1/31).
Inputs from PTI