India extend lead at lunch

Hyderabad, Aug 24 (IANS) India extended their lead by 64 runs without loss to get to 371 for five in their first innings at lunch on the second day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, here Friday.

Cheteshwar Pujara, who struck his maiden Test ton Thursday, reached 151 while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was unbeaten on 61 as they added 111 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket stand.

The hosts started the day under overcast conditions and both the batsmen helped India build the innings and push ahead in the first session against the Black Caps.

Pujara and Dhoni denied New Zealand any success. The pair kept the scoreboard ticking with some big shots, though regularly operating in a lower gear.

The Kiwi bowlers tried probing the Indians however proving unsuccessful.

Pujara continued with his good form from Thursday, and the only chance New Zealand had to dislodge him, came when he was slow to respond to Dhoni's call for a single. Brendon McCullum at short cover faltered, and Pujara, batting at 133, managed to scamper back to the crease.

The start of the match was delayed by 25 minutes, as the ground staff was asked to pull on the covers in anticipation of a rain shower which never came.