Pujara scores another half-century as India reach 148 for 2

Cheteshwar Pujara continued with his rich vein of form by scoring a half-century and skipper Virat Kohli was also solid from the other end as they took India to 148 for two against England at tea on the second day of the third cricket Test, here.
England scored 283 in their first innings adding 15 runs to their overnight score.
Pujara (51) and Kohli (40) preferred caution over aggression, adding 75 runs for the unbroken third wicket. In the post lunch session, India added 88 runs in 29 overs and are now trailing by 135 runs.
Pujara (51) played 102 balls en route to his 11th Test half-century. He has already scored three hundreds in his last three matches. The Saurashtra right-hander hit eight boundaries.

Kohli also batted cautiously, scoring 40 off 79 balls with six boundaries to his credit. In fact, he had a little battle with Ben Stokes, whom he hit for back to back boundaries --- through mid-off and and a flick off his hips.
He also hit some glorious drives of off-spinner Gareth Batty and leg-spinner Adil Rashid. When Rashid bowled a long hop it was promptly pulled towards mid-wicket fence.

Pujara hit Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes for a cover drive each. A flash over slips also went to the boundary while he used his feet to a good effect against spinners.

Earlier Parthiv Patel (42) gave a much better account of his batting skills before England successfully used their DRS review off Adil Rashid's bowling.
Coming back into the Test team after eight years, Patel did not look much jittery while wielding the willow compared to his blemishes while donning the big gloves as Indians lost only Murali Vijay (12) during the opening session.
In all, he hit six boundaries in 85 balls.
That Patel's batting has improved tremendously is something that's known to one and all but what was reassuring was the confidence with which he tackled the new ball bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes.

It's never easy opening the batting after being informed at the eleventh hour with a regular opener out due to an injury. Nerves are bound to be there and more so if one has to open the batting on his comeback Test in the morning when the conditions are conducive for swing bowlers.
A tuck off his hips to the square leg boundary eased his nerves. There was delightful off-drive followed by a thickish inside edge in the very next delivery bowled by Stokes. When Moeen Ali flighted one, he was quick to dispatch him through the covers.
The shot of the morning certainly was a push past Anderson that raced to the boundary. It was not even a firm push let alone be called a drive. But the flow in his gentle push was there to be seen.

The wicket certainly eased out considerably although it's on the slower side. Understanding the nature of the strip, skipper Alastair Cook was seen removing the second and third slips early. The gully was also taken off as the lesser carry meant that balls won't fly off the surface.
However the fluent innings was cut short when he tried to sweep Rashid. Umpire Erasmus this time gave not out but the TV umpire ruled it in favour of England team, who successfully used the review.
In the morning Mohammed Shami (3/63) polished off the tail with England managing to add 15 runs to their overnight score of 268 for eight.

At the start of the day, Shami with first ball of the second over got Rashid (4) to nick a delivery that only moved a shade away. He then wrapped it up by getting an in-cutter to trap Gareth Batty (1) leg before.