Sehwag steadies ship
Star Indian stroke-maker Virender Sehwag has hit a swashbuckling 180 to help his side to 4-361 at stumps on day one of the second Test against the West Indies at St Lucia.
The opener let loose with the willow early in the day and finished the morning session one run shy of his century.
Had he made three figures, Sehwag would have become the first Indian and only the fifth-ever player in cricket’s distinguished history, to hit a century on the opening morning of a Test.
Batting alongside opener Wasim Jaffer, the pair put on 159 runs before Jaffer fell on 43 after edging a loose delivery to first slip.
VVS Laxman (0) then suffered a similar fate to Jaffer when he was dismissed shortly after following an edge through to the wicket-keeper.
However, Sehwag steadied the ship with skipper Rahul Dravid before the centurion was caught and bowled by Pedro Collins with the score on 300.
The West Indies then found themselves celebrating a double breakthrough soon after when Yuvraj Singh was bowled by Collins for two, the recalled paceman nabbing all four wickets on the opening day.
But Dravid and Mohammad Kaif ensured there were no more setbacks for the tourists, with the pair compiling a solid stand of 55 by the time stumps arrived.
Kaif finished the day unbeaten on 18 while skipper Dravid, delighted with proceedings after winning the toss and choosing to bat, needs just five more runs to collect his 23rd Test hundred.
India 1st innings
Jaffer c Bravo b Collins 43
Sehwag c & b Collins 180
Laxman c Ramdin b Collins 0
Dravid not out 95
Yuvraj Singh b Collins 2
Kaif not out 18
Extras (4b,7lb,w3,9nb) 23
Total (4 wickets) 361
FoW: 1-159, 2-161, 3-300, 4-306
Bowling
Collins 20-4-75-4
Taylor 17-2-56-0
Bravo 10-0-66-0
Collymore 14-1-57-0
Bradshaw 14-4-45-0
Sarwan 10-0-51-0
See also India vs West Indies, 2006.
