Virender Sehwag blazed his way to his 17th hundred, his second in as many matches, and shared a double century partnership with fellow-opener Murali Vijay as India reached 260 for one at tea on the second day of the third and final Test on Thursday.
Virender Sehwag blazed his way to his 17th hundred, his second in as many matches, and shared a double century partnership with fellow-opener Murali Vijay as India reached 260 for one at tea on the second day of the third and final Test on Thursday.
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The 31-year-old Delhi dasher, who completed 6,000 Test runs in the morning session in his 72nd Test, clobbered the visiting bowlers in his typical fashion to race to his hundred off only 101 balls.
He is the third fastest out of eight Indians to reach the milestone in his 123rd innings.
Vijay, playing his only second Test after making his debut in November, 2008 against Australia at Nagpur, played the perfect foil to his senior and more aggressive partner while also playing some magnificent drives before departing for 87 with 40 minutes left for tea.
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| Murali Vijay |
Vijay, who was let off when on 67, struck 10 fours and a six off Muttiah Muralitharan in his 121-ball knock, tried to sweep a Rangana Herath delivery, missed it and was caught plumb in front.
After his dismissal on 221 in the 40th over, India raced to 260 for one at the tea break with Sehwag unbeaten on 151, off only 131 balls and inclusive of five sixes and 19 fours.
Rahul Dravid (17 in 20 balls with three fours), also looking good for a big score, was the other unbeaten batsman.
The home team are now 133 runs behind the Lankan first innings total of 393 on a wicket that seemed to have eased out considerably.
Sehwag was in menacing form as a flurry of fours and sixes flew from his bat. He drove and cut powerfully, played against the spin too at times with disdain, and also used the reverse sweep on one occasion to simply demoralise the visiting attack.
The two openers gave a rollicking start to the innings to race away to 92 without loss in 18 overs at lunch and then stepped up the tempo in the second session with Sehwag going into over-drive while Vijay looked elegant.
As many as 168 runs were scored in the second session in only 27 overs as all the Lankan bowlers were subjected to harsh treatment by Sehwag who singled out Rangana Herath, the left arm spinner who took a five-wicket haul in the second Test at Kanpur, for special punishment.
Sehwag, who notched up his third triple-figure knock against the Lankans on Thursday, lofted Herath for four of his five sixes.
Sehwag's century, which he reached with a paddle sweep off Muralitharan, was studded with 13 fours and two sixes.
In the morning, India quickly polished off the last two Sri Lanka wickets for the addition of just 27 runs in 22 balls and in less than half an hour after the visitors resumed at 366 for eight.
Sri Lanka added 13 runs before losing Angelo Mathews who was run out on 99, his highest Test score, when going for a second run with Muralitharan.
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