FINALLY! Virender Sehwag strikes form, hits ton to lead MCC to win

Virender Sehwag en route his 109 yesterday

Dubai: Virender Sehwag's typically rapid century ensured county champions Durham suffered a six-wicket defeat in their English season curtain-raiser against MCC in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.


Virender Sehwag en route his 109 yesterday

The 35-year-old Delhi batsman smashed 18 boundaries and a six in his 97-ball innings to help MCC overhaul the victory target of 225 in 51 overs on the fourth and final day.

Out of the national side for more than a year, Sehwag played a captain's knock as he added 105 runs with Samit Patel (48 not out)of Nottinghamshire for the fourth-wicket.

Sehwag was finally dismissed by Jamie Harrison in the 49th over of MCC's second innings.

Resuming the MCC's second innings at overnight 48/2, Sehwag blasted three fours in the opening over of the first session from seamer Harrison to give his team a good start in the day.

Daniel Bell-Drummond helped Sehwag take the score to 106 before the Kent batsman was caught and bowled by Scott Borthwick (two for 77).

The inexperienced Durham attack failed to tame Sehwag as he completed his half-century in 47 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and then by lunch, he was only five runs short of the three-figure mark.

Sehwag brought up his hundred shortly after the lunch break with a boundary off Harrison. He took 88 balls to reach his century.

Borthwick , the England leg-spinner, was one of several bowlers who suffered at Sehwag's hands before the dashing right-hander was caught off Harrison (two for 69).

MCC resumed on Wednesday's fourth and final day on 48 for two, with Sehwag nine not out.

North-east side Durham begin the defence of their First Division title away to promoted Midlands club Northamptonshire on April 13.

Traditionally, MCC played the champion county at their Lord's headquarters in north-west London but since 2010 the fixture has been staged in Abu Dhabi.