Pujara, Vijay continue to defy England (Tea Report)

Rajkot, Nov 11 (IANS) Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay continued to bat steadily as India reached 228/1 in their first innings on the third day of the first cricket Test against England at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday.

Pujara weathered some rough attention from the England pacers in the early part of his innings and was unbeaten on 99 when tea was called. Vijay was batting on 86 at the other end.

Coming together after the fall of Gautam Gambhir, the duo have produced an unbeaten stand of 160 runs.

India now trail England's sizeable first innings total of 537 by 309 runs.

England pacer Stuart Broad claimed the only wicket to fall so far on the third day, trapping opener Gautam Gambhir for figures of 1/32.

Brief scores:

India (First Innings): 228/1 (Cheteshwar Pujara 99 batting, Murali Vijay 86 batting; Stuart Broad 1/32) vs England 537.

--IANS

ajb/vt