Pujara scores unbeaten ton as India reaches 246 for 7 in third Test against Lanka

Opener Cheteshwar Pujara scored a timely and battling unbeaten century on Saturday to take India to 242 for the loss of seven wickets on day two of the third and final Test match against Sri Lanka being played at the SSC Ground here.

At the time of the filing of this report, Pujara was batting on an unbeaten 110, and giving him company, was leg-spinner Amit Mishra on an unbeaten 40. The two of them together added 67 runs for the eighth wicket.

Earlier, Sri Lankan pacer Dhammika Prasad made inroads into the much vaunted Indian batting line-up, capturing four wickets for 70 in 20 overs, ensuring that Sri Lanka did not lose the advantage of bowling first on a seaming pitch at the SSC.

Pujara, who was playing as a stop-gap opener, showed exemplary discipline in scoring his seventh hundred and the first since December 2013.

Prasad claimed the wickets of K L Rahul, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny and R Ashwin.

India began the day at 50 for 2, and it could have been three down when Kohli survived a close lbw shout in the first over.

Kohli, however, did not last long, and was caught in the slips for his individual score of 18.

Thereafter, the Indian middle order buckled under pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers, with only Pujara playing a lone hand.