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Murali Vijay 100 cements India’s domination against Afghanistan
Murali Vijay joined Shikhar Dhawan with a century in the one-off Test against Afghanistan as India continued to dominate.
Murali Vijay slammed a century of 143 balls hitting 15 fours and one six to become the second centurion for India after Shikhar Dhawan in their one-off Test match against Afghanistan in Bangalore. (INDIA vs AFGHANISTAN LIVE SCORECARD)
It was the ninth occasion that both Indian openers have scored a century. He was left stranded at 99 when rains again briefly interrupted play again but as after the start Vijay lifted Wafadar’s first delivery of the 50th over above point region to raise his century, celebrating it with a ‘dab’. This is 12 century for the opener in Test cricket. (INDIA vs AFGHANISTAN LIVE UPDATES)
Murali Vijay last scored a century (155) in December 2017 against Sri Lanka. Thereafter a subdued IPL and general lack of runs meant many where thinking that he might be rusty. But against Afghanistan, the opener allayed all the fears of still being the number 1 choice as an opener with a controlled century.
His partner, Shikhar Dhawan, though looked like a man in hurry racing to a 107 off 96 balls, Vijay at the other end played a patient game waiting for loose balls or width to pick his gaps and boundaries.
He was also helped along by some pretty wayward bowling by the Afghanistan. He looked a bit tentative at the start, getting his first four off an inside edge of Yamin Ahmadzai. He then edged one past a vacant second slip region. But slowly and steadily the feet started moving and the opener got into positions quickly to play more fluently.
Away from the slam bang style of Dhawan, Vijay picked his fights. He carted Mujeeb ur Rahman for a six and then Rashid was dispatched for consecutive fours in the 32nd over. As Rahul opened his shoulders at the other end, it meant less pressure on Vijay to keep the scoreboard ticking.
