Super Sehwag continues world domination
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid hit centuries in contrasting fashion as India rack up 329.
AHMEDABAD:
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid struck centuries in contrasting fashion as India racked up 329 for three on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand.
Sehwag hit 24 fours and a six in his 199-ball 173 and also shared 237 runs for the second wicket with Dravid who scored a patient 104 off 222 balls with 14 fours. Sachin Tendulkar, eyeing his 50th Test ton, was 13 not out with VVS Laxman on seven when stumps were drawn for the day at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Lost chances
Top-ranked India, put into bat in batsman-friendly conditions, dominated the struggling New Zealand as the tourists dropped three easy chances. Sehwag brought up his 22nd Test century in style, charging down the track to loft left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for a four over mid-off.
The dashing opener, dropped on 155 by substitute fielder Martin Guptill, was finally dismissed by Vettori, who became only the second player after Stephen Fleming to play 100 Tests for New Zealand.
Dravid, going through a lean spell with the bat this year, was dropped on 28 by wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins who failed to latch on to a low chance off part-time medium pacer Jesse Ryder. But the veteran batsman shrugged off a sluggish start and a blow on the head from a bouncer by debutant Hamish Bennett to complete his 30th Test century before being bowled by fast-bowler Chris Martin.
Sehwag becomes the star of the show
However, the day belonged to Sehwag, who entertained the fans with a breathtaking array of shots all around the ground.
The swashbuckling batsman put on 60 runs with Gautam Gambhir, the duo surpassing the 3,010-run tally of Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar to become India’s most prolific opening pair.
Sehwag started off aggressively, hitting Martin for three fours in the third over of the day before Ryder struck to dismiss Gambhir, who inside-edged onto the leg-stump while attempting a drive.
India are the favourites to win the three-Test series against the eighth-ranked Kiwis after beating Australia 2-0 at home last month.
The second Test will be played in Hyderabad from November 12 while the third in Nagpur from November 20. The Tests will be followed by five One-Day Internationals from November 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2010.
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid struck centuries in contrasting fashion as India racked up 329 for three on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand.
Sehwag hit 24 fours and a six in his 199-ball 173 and also shared 237 runs for the second wicket with Dravid who scored a patient 104 off 222 balls with 14 fours. Sachin Tendulkar, eyeing his 50th Test ton, was 13 not out with VVS Laxman on seven when stumps were drawn for the day at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Lost chances
Top-ranked India, put into bat in batsman-friendly conditions, dominated the struggling New Zealand as the tourists dropped three easy chances. Sehwag brought up his 22nd Test century in style, charging down the track to loft left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for a four over mid-off.
The dashing opener, dropped on 155 by substitute fielder Martin Guptill, was finally dismissed by Vettori, who became only the second player after Stephen Fleming to play 100 Tests for New Zealand.
Dravid, going through a lean spell with the bat this year, was dropped on 28 by wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins who failed to latch on to a low chance off part-time medium pacer Jesse Ryder. But the veteran batsman shrugged off a sluggish start and a blow on the head from a bouncer by debutant Hamish Bennett to complete his 30th Test century before being bowled by fast-bowler Chris Martin.
Sehwag becomes the star of the show
However, the day belonged to Sehwag, who entertained the fans with a breathtaking array of shots all around the ground.
The swashbuckling batsman put on 60 runs with Gautam Gambhir, the duo surpassing the 3,010-run tally of Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar to become India’s most prolific opening pair.
Sehwag started off aggressively, hitting Martin for three fours in the third over of the day before Ryder struck to dismiss Gambhir, who inside-edged onto the leg-stump while attempting a drive.
India are the favourites to win the three-Test series against the eighth-ranked Kiwis after beating Australia 2-0 at home last month.
The second Test will be played in Hyderabad from November 12 while the third in Nagpur from November 20. The Tests will be followed by five One-Day Internationals from November 28.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2010.