Colombo // Cheteshwar Pujara marked his recall with an unbeaten century after Sri Lanka’s Dhammika Prasad ripped through India’s batting in the decisive third and final Test in Colombo on Saturday.
The tourists, who resumed at 50 for two after a rain-curtailed opening day, moved to 292 for eight by stumps on the second day at the Sinhalese Sports Club with Pujara holding fort on a watchful 135 not out.
Pujara, who had been dropped for India’s past four Tests across Australia, Bangladesh and the ongoing series, may not have played this match, either, if both regular openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan had been fit.
Pujara, 27, grabbed the chance to notch up his seventh Test century that has so far included 13 boundaries.
Fast bowler Prasad bowled superbly to take four wickets in the innings, including two off successive balls on either side of the lunch break that reduced India to 119 for five.
No 9 batsman Amit Mishra came to India’s rescue with a defiant 59 during an eighth wicket stand of 104 with Pujara which boosted the total.
“This is definitely one of the toughest wickets I have played on,” said Pujara. “It’s a challenge to bat on it because you have to keep defending to survive and wait for the loose ball.
“I tried to keep things simple and play my natural game. It was important to play the ball from close to the body because a few guys got out playing it away from the body.”
Pujara said encouraging words from Indian batting great Rahul Dravid motivated him when he was out of the playing XI. “Rahul told me there was nothing wrong with my technique and that I was batting well,” said Pujara. “He told me to stay calm and a big one could some soon.”
Prasad took four wickets in the innings and said it was a delight to be able to bowl on a helpful surface.
“I am enjoying bowling on it, but you have to make sure you don’t get carried away,” he said.
Prasad conceded Sri Lanka had let the advantage slip, but he hopes India’s innings will end early on Sunday.
“We had them seven down for 180, but then came the century stand between Pujara and Mishra,” he said. “That put us back a little, but I think we can get back into a good position if we take the remaining wickets early.”
The series is level at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the opening Test in Galle by 63 runs and India drew level with a 278-run win in the second match at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on Monday.
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