View source for Pujara Rahane Centuries Put India In Control

Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 153 in the first innings of the opening Test, hit 10 fours and a six<br>  <br>Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane hit centuries as India took opening day honours on 344-3 at stumps against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo on Thursday.<br> <br>Pujara (128) and  [http://datasciencemetabase.com/index.php/Dhawan_Returns_For_T20_Series_Against_Australia http://datasciencemetabase.com/index.php/Dhawan_Returns_For_T20_Series_Against_Australia] Rahane (103) put on an unbeaten 211-run partnership for the fourth wicket to thwart Sri Lankan bowlers who struck two crucial blows in the afternoon session.<br> <br>The in-form Pujara registered his 13th Test century in his landmark 50th game as Rahane fired his ninth Test hundred.<br> <br>The visitors, who lead the three-match series 1-0, wobbled slightly when Lokesh Rahul went for 57 and skipper Virat Kohli followed for 13 soon after lunch.<br> <br>Rahul, who scored his eighth Test fifty despite only just recovering from a virus, was run out in a mix-up with Pujara.<br> <br>"I was disappointed because I have been away from the game so long and I didn't want to get out at all," he told reporters at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground.<br> <br>He said knowing the team was waiting for his return post recovery "made a big difference and I came back with a lot more confidence".<br> <br>"The pitch was on the slower side and would turn as the Test went on," he added.<br> <br>- Bounce-back time -<br> <br>Veteran left-arm spinner spinner Rangana Herath sent Kohli trudging back to the pavilion with a tossed-up delivery that got the edge of the captain's bat and went to slip.<br> <br>Pujara and Rahane ground out the runs to deny Dinesh Chandimal's side any more wickets during the day.<br> <br>Pujara, who scored 153 in the first innings of the opening Test, hit 10 fours and a six.<br> <br>Rahane also tackled the spinners with aplomb, using his feet to great effect during his 168-ball stay at the crease so far.<br> <br>Sri Lanka's interim coach Nic Pothas praised Rahane for his gritty knock but conceded the squad didn't maintain pressure on the world's top Test team.<br> <br>"Rahane came and played very well. From that point onwards we didn't perhaps execute as well as we had done up to that point," said the former South Africa player.<br> <br>"We just released the pressure a little bit. That was the turning session. India got momentum back. This is the day one and it's Test match cricket. It's about how you bounce back."<br> <br>In the morning session, off-spinner Dilruwan Perera had Shikhar Dhawan trapped lbw for 35 after the tourists elected to bat first.<br> <br>Debutant left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara was still searching for his first Test scalp as paceman Nuwan Pradeep had to leave the field due to a suspected pulled hamstring.<br> <br>The hosts need at least a draw to stay alive in the series.<br>