Sehwag blitz powers India in Chennai test |
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Friday March 28, 05:14 PM
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CHENNAI (Reuters) - Virender Sehwag hammered an unbeaten 218 to spearhead India's reply against South Africa on the third day of the first test on Friday.
The 29-year-old lashed 34 fours and three sixes in a stunning assault on South African bowlers, steering India to 309 for one at tea in reply to South Africa's first innings 540 all out.
Sehwag, who reached his 14th century before lunch, scored his second hundred from just 78 balls.
The explosive batsman, the only Indian to have scored a test triple hundred, cut loose against experienced paceman Makhaya Ntini and left-arm spinner Paul Harris to score 118 runs in one session.
Rahul Dravid was 10 not out after Harris gave South Africa their lone success by dismissing opener Wasim Jaffer (73).
Sehwag raised 213 runs with Jaffer for the opening wicket.
He attacked fast bowler Dale Steyn with a flurry of fours after India resumed on their lunch score of 176 for no loss before smashing new ball bowler Morne Morkel for three fours in one over to cross 150.
He became India's highest scorer in tests against South Africa when he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's 169.
He flicked Ntini over square leg for six and took a triple off the next ball to reach a double century and then smashed the bowler over cover for his third six.
Sehwag reached his hundred before lunch, lofting Jacques Kallis over midwicket and mid-off for two fours in one over to reach triple figures in 116 balls.
After the home bowlers toiled on a flat Chennai pitch for almost two days, the tourists also struggled in intense heat and humidity.
Jaffer, who made way for Sehwag in the last two tests in Australia after a poor run of form, edged a drive against Harris to Kallis at slip.
South Africa number three Hashim Amla top-scored with a superb 159 on Thursday after a century partnership by openers Neil McKenzie (94) and skipper Graeme Smith (73).
The second and third tests will be played in Ahmedabad and Kanpur respectively.
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