It’s raining runs in Rajkot

Mumbai players must be wondering what Cheteshwar Pujara eats. He must be starving himself of food and filling his hunger with runs.

The run-machine from Rajkot has now hit the third consecutive century in the elite division helping his team Saurashtra to pile up 643 runs for the loss of four wickets on the second day against Mumbai at Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground here.

Resuming at their overnight score of 285 for one, Saurashtra lost star debutant Chirag Pathak in the morning session. The southpaw made 170, spending 448 minutes at the crease facing 335 balls. His innings was laced with 17 fours and 2 sixes.

Mumbai must have felt relieved seeing the back of Pathak. That was only to bring in the in-form Pujara at the crease. He did not waste any time to get settled and started attacking mercilessly.

He made the Mumbai bowlers toil on a pitch which looks nothing less than a batting paradise. In the process, Pujara hit his third consecutive century in as many innings. He touched the three figures mark in 119 balls. After reaching the magical figure, his next fifty came of just thirty balls.

He, however, was bowled by leg-spinner Sairaj Bahutule while trying to play an ambitious shot when he was on 176. Bahutule who was bowling outside the leg stump to check the run flow, finally got the reward after the prolific Saurashtra batsman ran out of patience.

Pujara’s knock consumed 276 minutes in the middle hitting 21 fours and two sixes. His 176 runs came off 173 balls.

Meanwhile, Sitanshu Kotak hit a patient 78. His innigs lasted for 213 balls with seven fours. The duo added 179 runs for the fourth wicket.

Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah did not want to take any risk against the formidable Mumbai’s batting side and indicated to continue the inning since tomorrow’s first session.

Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 42 and Jaydev Shah was on 25, when stumps were drawn for the day. Saurashtra made 643 for the loss of four wickets off 177 overs. For Mumbai, Usman Malvi took two wickets conceding 122 runs while Sairaj Bahutule got