Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ton for Vijay

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BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – After a gut-wrenching dismissal on 99 last week, Murali Vijay made sure he didn’t make himself too nervous in the nineties at the Gabba.

The India opener looked slightly surprised today when he reached his fifth cricket Test century, and needed his batting partner to confirm he’d safely progressed to triple figures.

Vijay went on to equal former captain Sourav Ganguly’s record of 144 for the highest Test score by an Indian batsman at the Brisbane venue before charging down the pitch to Nathan Lyon and edging a catch to Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Following two half centuries in the 48-run loss in the first Test at Adelaide, Vijay’s hundred and his 124-run, fourth-wicket stand with Ajinkya Rahane (75 not out) helped India get away to a commanding 311 for four at stumps on day one of the second Test.

“I was not aware of how much I was batting on. I was looking at the team score and batting, and Ajinkya was the non-striker, he told me that I got a hundred. So that’s when I realised,” Vijay recounted. “It’s good in a way. I didn’t want to see the score, because I got out for 99 in the last game.”

Vijay was trapped lbw by Lyon on the last day in Adelaide, ending a promising partnership with Virat Kohli that kept India in with a chance of an unexpected victory. Without a victory target to chase this time, Vijay said he was focused more on building India’s total rather than his own score.

“That was a great feeling to have, without knowing, because last match I was 99 I was aware of it, I did not get (a century). Today, I was not aware of it, I got it,” he said. “That works.”

Vijay has scored four of his Test centuries against Australia, attributing that to playing the Aussies more often than any other country in his 29-Test career.

Summarised scores: India: 311 for four (Murali Vijay 144, Ajinkya Rahane 75 not out; Josh Hazlewood 2-44) vs Australia.

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