Ind vs SL: India 312-2 at close, lead Sri Lanka by 107 runs on Day 2

Opener Murali Vijay added to the selection conundrum with a patient 128 and was ably complemented by Run Machine Cheteshwar Pujaras unbeaten 121 as India grinded a mediocre Sri Lankan attack on the second day of the second cricket Test Pujara and Vijay added 209 runs for the second wicket to set a platform from where India would look to bat the Islanders out of the contest Ending the day at a comfortable 312 for two the hosts are 107 runs ahead of Sri Lankas first innings total of 205 Playing his first Test match after eight months Vijay increased the happy headacheiquest of the team management as they will be spoilt for choice during the third Test match in Delhi and more importantly the Test series in South AfricaCheteshwar Pujara andMurali VijayWith his compact technique the Tamil Nadu opener is certainly going to have a headstart over his nearest rivals KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan when the team embarks on the tour to South AfricaPujara who scored his 14th century has skipper Virat Kohli 54 bating for company Kohli is looking good for a big one on the third day and surely would be playing a more attacking role than Pujara who took 246 balls to reach his centuryWith the pitch not offering any assistance to the bowlers Sri Lankan attack looked pedestrian as the seasoned Indian duo scored runs easily without taking any undue risksThe PujaraVijay combination has been a nemesis for bowlers in the Indian subcontinent with their 10th century stand in longest version Vijay hit 11 boundaries and a six off 221 deliveries before being dismissed while trying to sweep Rangana HerathPujara batted through the whole day facing 284 balls in which he hit 13 boundariesThree more satisfying pieces of statistics is sure to bring smile in the Indian dressing room VijayPujara pair score at an average of 73 runs per partnership highest among all Indian pairs across Test cricket and Saurashtra right hander has completed 1000 Test runs in 2017PujaraVijay were also involved in their fourth successive century standVijay teed off with a glorious square drive off Eden Test hero Suranga Lakmal 058 who was far from his best with conditions not aiding his kind of bowlingFor someone who plays the drive fluently Vijay was time and again provided with loose halfvolleys both outside the offstump and on his legs for him to make full useThe shot with which Vijay brought up his halfcentury was a picture perfect straight drive off Dasun ShanakaThere was a lot of time at Indiaiquests disposal and thats why the batsmen were in no hurry yet comfortably got their runs The home team scored at a steady if not breakneck pace but always had control of the proceedings with the three seasons yielding 301 runs in 90 oversThe acceleration in the final session was largely due to skipper Kohlis flurry of strokes he hit six boundaries facing 70 ballsDinesh Chandimals decision to bring in his spinners hardly yielded any different result as both looked comfortable reaching to the pitch of the deliveries nullifying any help that they could have possibly got off the pitchWhen Herath 145 flighted one inviting Pujara to come out he promptly did so by flicking it to the vacant midwicket boundary His straight drive off Lakmal was regal as he hit nine fours having faced 183 deliveriesVijay on his part gave Herath the charge hitting him for a straight six He completed his hundred with a push towards longoff of Dilruwan Pereras bowling He achieved the landmark in 187 deliveriesDilruwan 0117 in 21 overs could hardly turn a single delivery and was the weaklink of the attack leaking runs from one endWorse he was stationed at short midon for a specific uppish drive Vijay did fall into the trap trying to flick Lahiru Gamage and the ball flew towards Dilruwan who couldnt pouch onto the catch The Tamil Nadu opener was batting on 61 thenThere wasnt a single wickettaking delivery from the Lankan attack as they could hardly beat the bat With no lateral movement on offer and the pitch offering reasonable good bounce and carry strokeplay became relatively easierThe fuller length deliveries did not seem to work for them while the trio of Lakmal Shanaka 043 in 13 overs and Gamage 147 in 22 overs did not have enough pace to trouble the batsmen when they hit back of the length