India vs England, Rajkot Test: Pujara, Vijay add to tally of tons in first Test; India 319 for 4

RAJKOT: Amit Mishra ran a few laps of the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium on Friday evening after the end of the third day's play. One wasn't sure if it was some kind of punishment handed to him by the Indian team management.
A scoreboard that should've read 319-3 by evening, eventually ended up reading 319-4, thanks to Mishra offering a catch to forward short-leg fielder Haseeb Hameed off the bowling of Zafar Ansari.It was only the second delivery that he faced. The leg-spinner had come in as a night-watchman after Murali Vijay was dismissed by Adil Rashid who produced a good googly that bounced and forced Vijay to fend it to Hameed at short-leg.
Elongated last session
An extended last session that was about to come to an end, instead allowed England to make some last-minute inroads into the Indian batting order and even out the day, which had largely belonged to the hosts thanks to an impressive 209-run partnership for the second wicket between Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Hosting its first match, Rajkot witnessed sessions of classical Test match cricket where bowlers came hard at the batsmen, batsmen took body blows and survived, fielders threw themselves at everything and spinners enjoyed a bit of turn.
There was something in it for everyone.
A little extra, though, was taken away by Pujara (124) and Vijay (126), who came up with a special effort on a challenging day.
For a team looking to get close to a first innings total of 537 set by the opposition, and then looking to counter a comprehensive attack consisting six full-time bowlers, patience had to be the key word.
Pujara walked in at the fall of Gautam Gambhir's wicket. The latter's feet betrayed him as the left-hander tied himself up in knots and fell over and was trapped plumb in front by Stuart Broad.
Big Welcome For Local Hero
In walked Pujara, the local hero to the applause of the crowd, his father Arvind and wife Puja. This was going to be special for the family, regardless of how much the No. 3 scored.
The century took its time coming. What came before that was an incredible spell from Chris Woakes, a very strict line, just short of good-length that kept testing him. Three short ones in the morning session in particular could've made Puja's heart flutter. Two deliveries hit her husband on the front and back of the helmet. He also took one blow on his front arm. Pujara managed just 32 runs in a 10-over spell, this after he had taken Moeen Ali to the cleaners.
The effort earned applause from non-striker Vijay. A similar spell from Stuart Broad would come later, post lunch, allowing India to score a mere 38 runs in 13 overs. It was that kind of a mental and physical battle that the Indian duo fought and surged ahead.
For A Change DRS Saves India
The local lad also got a scare on 86 when a Zafar Ansari delivery sneaked through the bat and pad to hit Pujara's right thigh. At first look, it seemed like the century had been missed. However, the batsman immediately sought a referral and the decision got overturned on the grounds that the ball was going over the wicket. India succeeded with a DRS referral for the first time.
Vijay had his share of troubles to handle. He was not as aggressive as Pujara for the early part of his innings and took his time settling down. He also found himself struggling against variable bounce and turn.
For most part, he left more than he played, thrived on patience, and took time notching up his seventh century which he celebrated with a leap in the air. It came four overs after Pujara had his nervous moments on 99, before bringing in his ninth Test hundred.
Five centuries have now been scored in the Test. India still need 19 runs to avoid the follow on and trail England by 218 runs. Virat Kohli will walk out with Ajinkya Rahane in the morning. The in-form captain and the man for all seasons in Tests have had many big partnerships.
India could do with another one on Saturday.