Sehwag Shines as Warne Takes Record

Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag slammed his 7th Test century as the Indians resisted the irresistible force of Shane Warne on a record-breaking Day 2 in Chennai.

Beginning the day delicately poised at 1/28, Sehwag immediately blasted the Australian attack as he reached his 50 in short time. Irfan Pathan, despite a massive six off Warne, was the more passive of the pair before falling for 14.

Few dismissals have been more crucial to the fabrication of Test cricket history. Pushing forward to a leg-break, Pathan succeeded only in edging Warne to Matthew Hayden at first slip. For the champion leg-spinner a week of self-doubt ended as the jubilation of the moment was shared by the Chennai crowd and the cricket world alike.

Once the record was solely Warne's, Sehwag continued to flay the Australian bowling attack - including some masterful sweep shots from the leg-spinner himself in raising an exceptional 7th Test hundred and a magnificent return to form. In partnership with Rahul Dravid, the Indians added 95 for the third wicket before Michael Kasprowicz extracted his luck as Dravid played on.

In the same over, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was caught by Michael Clarke from a Kasprowicz no ball, yet in failing to grasp his second chance the prince fell to Jason Gillespie for 9.

Entering the ever-so dangerous VVS Laxman one could feel the tide of the match sitting in the balance. Gillespie, headband in toe, delivered a killer punch in finding the inside edge of Laxman's bat with the deflection taking the stumps and ridding the Australians of their greatest fear.

Yet Sehwag's masterpiece was drawing to a close as Warne re-discovered the rhythm that deserted him in the first Test match. Once Clarke finally hung on to a catch, the destructive opener was dismissed for 155 - his third score above 150 in Test cricket and second against Australia.

As the tide had tuned back towards Australia, Mohammad Kaif (34*) and Parthiv Patel (27*) offered stubborn resistance in the final stages of the day to ensure that India held a solid lead heading into day 3.

While the day belonged to Sehwag, the moment belonged to Warne. A career that has reached every height and depth imaginable, this day seemed destiny - with a tinge of luck. Had Muttiah Muralitharan not fallen to injury, Warne would hold no case to this record. Such is the story of his career, however, it had seemed his earlier stumbled had blocked the path to immortality.

As the day faded in Chennai, the Victorian's finest performance to date in India left him with a new mark of 534 - and the promise of more tomorrow.

Progress Score: Stumps Day 2

Australia 235
J Langer 71, M Hayden 58;
A Kumble 7/48

India 6/291
V Sehwag 155;
S Warne 3/95.

Posted by Andre