India 1/311 (93ov, Pujara 162*, Vijay 129*) lead Australia 9/237d by 74 runs on 1st inns: T2/4 D2/5 at Hyderabad.
Today was another series, and probably generational, watershed. After Virender Sehwag fell cheaply Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara batted through D2, at first cautiously then, as the Australian bowlers tired under the Hyderabad sun, more freely, adding 294 and putting the Test beyond Australia's reach.
Vijay was the more circumspect, relatively speaking, of the pair, his 129*/288b (2x6, 17x4) Pujara's 162*/251b (1x6, 25x4). The Australian bowlers constrained them in the first session: at lunch 30 overs (27 today) had conceded 1/54 .
The afternoon session saw 106 added from 33 overs: briskish but hardly tearaway stuff even if the lack of wickets (even a wicket) didn't portend well for Australia. When Vijay and Pujara cut loose after tea Australia came close to wilting. A chance or two (half chances according to a tactful- or poorsighted TV commentator) were missed but the two young batters were still there at stumps, their team 1/311, and they having added 151 from 30 overs in the final session.
And Sachin has yet to bat...and Michael Clarke to bowl (not that he 's likely to run through India, but surely worth, physical condition permitting, a few overs?)
A second bleak day on the trot for Australia.
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