Pujara cracks half-century on comeback

HYDERABAD, India (AFP) –

Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara plays a shot during the opening day of the first Test match against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International cricket stadium in Hyderabad on August 23. Pujara hit an impressive half-century on his comeback as India reached 182-3 at tea.

Cheteshwar Pujara hit an impressive half-century on his comeback as India reached 182-3 at tea on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Hyderabad on Thursday.

The top-order batsman, who played his last Test in January 2011, was unbeaten on 54 at the interval with Virat Kohli (32 not out). The pair have so far put on 57 for the fourth wicket.

Pujara reached his second half-century in four Tests when he cut James Franklin for a four in the afternoon session. He has so far hit six boundaries in his 121-ball knock.

Left-arm paceman Trent Boult was the most successful bowler as he had opener Gautam Gambhir (22) caught behind and then got a big wicket when he bowled Sachin Tendulkar (19), who was playing his first Test after becoming a member of parliament.

Tendulkar could only add seven more runs to his lunch score of 12 before he was suprised by a Boult delivery that came in sharply. He hit just two fours in his slow 62-ball innings.

The world’s leading scorer in both Tests and one-dayers with an unprecedented 100 international centuries, the 39-year-old Tendulkar was in April nominated to the upper house of parliament, the Rajya Sabha, for his contribution to the nation.

Fast bowler Doug Bracewell was the other wicket-taker, having free-scoring opener Virender Sehwag (47) caught by Martin Guptill at second slip.

New Zealand did not allow India to build a big partnership on a good batting track, removing both the openers in the morning and then dismissing Tendulkar in the afternoon to reduce the hosts to 125-3.

New Zealand went into the match with one spinner, Jeetan Patel, who succeeded in containing runs as he has so far conceded just 26 in 14 overs.

India, playing their first Test after the retirement of veterans Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, put on 49 for the opening wicket after winning the toss when Boult dismissed Gambhir in the 10th over.

Sehwag cracked nine fours in his brisk 41-ball knock before he fell to a loose shot, caught in the slips while attempting to cut Bracewell.

He was lucky to survive in Bracewell’s previous over when his edge went between wicket-keeper Kruger van Wyk and first-slip Ross Taylor for a four. He hit two more boundaries in the same over.