Sehwag hammers double century
AMIR SINGH
IN BANGALORE
VIRENDER Sehwag hammered 201 as India reached 379 for six in reply to Pakistan’s first innings 570 at stumps on the third day of the final test yesterday. India, lead the three-match series 1-0.
Sehwag hit 28 fours and two big sixes over long on in his 262-ball knock.
The 26-year-old looked in complete control, putting on 98 for the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir (24), 74 with Rahul Dravid (16), 85 with Sachin Tendulkar (41) and 80 with Vangipurappu Laxman (51 not out).
Sehwag reached 3,000 test runs, becoming the fastest Indian to the milestone, when he got to 160 with a single to square-leg. He then reached his second double-century off 260 deliveries, with two runs to extra-cover.
Sehwag, however, fell two balls later when leg spinner Danish Kaneria beat him in the air for a simple caught and bowled. Kaneria then had Saurav Ganguly (1) stumped with a googly while
wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was dismissed by Mohammad Sami for ten, leaving Laxman at the crease as the last recognised batsman and the visitors with the upper hand.
In Auckland, New Zealand were 199 for five at the close of the first day’s play of the third test against Australia. Hamish Marshall top scored with 76.
'''''India v Pakistan - Third Test, Day 3 - Bangalore, India'''''
File image of cricket ball.
Virender Sehwag's characteristic 201 wasn't enough to help India to safety, as a late spur of wickets in the final session left the hosts at 6-379, in response to Pakistan's first innings score of 570, still trailing by 191 runs, at close of play on Day 3 of the third and final Test of this historic series.

Sehwag dominated each and every Pakistani bowler during his dominant batting display, a second score of 200+ against the sub-continental neighbours. His innings, which could have been brought to an end when he was 43 when Asim Kamal missed a sharp chance at short leg, constituted 28 fours and two mammoth sixes.

Sehwag shared vital partnerships with fellow opener Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar; however none of those blossomed into a dominating partnership, which could have brought the match in the middle, instead of giving Pakistan the edge.

Gambhir was the first wicket to fall on the day, when caught at slip off a wide Sami delivery for 24, ending a 98-run opening partnership. But his wicket had no effect on Sehwag's concentration, as he kept blasting ball after ball, reaching the three-figure mark, when the team scored had reached only 150.

Dravid, on the back of two centuries in the last match, looked solid enough to threaten the Pakistani bowling, however a surprising lapse in concentration had him trapped in front of the wickets off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, for 22. Even as Sachin Tendulkar, the new man in, looked shaky to start with, Sehwag continued his onslaught, reaching his 150, as well as 3000 runs in Test cricket, becoming the fastest Indian to achieve that landmark.

Tendulkar soon found his feet though; even playing the customary paddle sweep that he has made his trademark. His dismissal was brought about by Shahid Afridi, who deceived him, to edge a straight drive to Younis Khan at backward point.

Post-tea, Sehwag galloped to the double hundred, before losing his cool, just two balls later, to Kaneria, giving a simple caught and bowled chance to the leggie. India lost two more wickets, within just 37 runs, to end up on the back foot at the end of the day. Sourav Ganguly, eluded of a century since more than a year, was stumped off a well-disguised googly for one, off Kaneria again, who finished with three wickets.

VVS Laxman remained unbeaten on 51, with Irfan Pathan joining him at the fall on the sixth wicket, that of Dinesh Kaarthick for 10.