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 Multan,
March 29: Virender Sehwag created history by becoming the first Indian
to crack a triple century and Sachin Tendulkar struck an unblemished
unbeaten century as India posted the third highest Test score ever to
take a firm grip on the opening Test against arch-rivals Pakistan here
today. Sehwag (309) and Tendulkar (194 not out) took the centre stage on
the second day as they rewrote the record books with several individual
and partnership milestones during a marathon 336-run third wicket
association before the visitors declared the innings at an imposing 675
for five on yet another eventful day at the Multan Cricket Stadium.
Faced with an uphill task, Pakistan were 42 for no loss at stumps with
Taufiq Umar batting on 20 and Imran Farhat on 17.
The flamboyant Sehwag
continued from where he had left on the opening day to record the first
triple century in Indian Test history, eclipsing the previous highest
individual score of 281 which stood in the name of his teammate V V S
Laxman established against Australia at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in
2001. It was yet another frustrating day for the hosts as Sehwag and
Tendulkar launched a ruthless assault on the demoralised bowlers to help
India record the highest-ever total against Pakistan, erasing the
previous record of 539 for nine declared at Chennai in 1960-61. The
marathon 336-run third wicket partnership was the highest-ever by an
Indian pair, erasing the record of 316, which stood in the name of
Gundappa Vishwanath and Yashpal Sharma at Chennai in 1991-92.
 It also turned out to
be the highest-ever partnership against Pakistan eclipsing the previous
record of Sunil Gavaskar and K Srikkanth who had put on 200 runs in the
Chennai Test in 1991-92. The Indian declaration came immediately after
Yuvraj Singh was dismissed for a 66-ball 59, leaving star batsman
Tendulkar just six runs short of what could have been his fourth double
century. His sparkling knock came off 348 balls and was laced with 21
boundaries. Tendulkar gave a fine display of controlled strokeplay to
slam his 33rd Test century and take himself to the second position in
the all-time list of century makers with Sunil Gavaskar being the only
one ahead of him with 34 centuries.
Resuming at the
overnight score of 356 for two, the two overnight batsmen played out the
first hour cautiously as the Pakistani pace bowlers put in a more
disciplined performance in the early stages of the game today but could
not succeed in breaking the partnership. The two batsmen played their
shots without taking too many risks in the second hour to put on 111
runs during the pre-lunch session without being separated, much to the
dismay of the paltry crowd. Tendulkar completed his century just at the
stroke of lunch by taking three runs off Abdul Razzak while Sehwag also
broke Laxman's record just before the break after being dropped by
Taufiq Umar in the first slip when on 274. Both the batsmen launched the
onslaught after the break collecting the runs with consummate ease on a
track which gave almost no assistance to the bowlers.
 Sehwag notched up his
triple century in style by lifting off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq for a
huge six to receive a standing ovation from the crowd who had very
little to cheer about. The Delhi batsman appeared to be in a more
aggressive frame of mind after the lunch break and played some glorious
shots before paceman Mohammad Sami providing the vital breakthrough by
getting rid of the dangerous opener, bringing an end to the epic
partnership. Sehwag edged an outgoing delivery from Sami to slips where
Taufiq Umar made no mistake this time, bringing an end to his
magnificent 375-ball knock which contained 39 boundaries and six sixes.
V V S Laxman, who joined the action after Sehwag's dismissal, and
Tendulkar continued the good work as they kept the scoreboard ticking
without taking any risks at all.
The fourth wicket pair
added 56 runs before Laxman, who survived a dropped catch by Imran
Farhat when on 26, was run out with Yousuf Youhana doing a smart piece
of fielding from the mid-wicket region. Laxman, who looked quite
comfortable in the middle, could not regain the safety of his crease as
Youhana threw the ball to wicketkeeper Moin Khan who whipped off the
bails in a flash. It was then the turn of Yuvraj Singh, playing only in
his second Test, to join the run feast and he unleashed a flurry of
shots on both sides of the wicket in a bid to rattle up as many runs as
possible before the declaration. Yuvraj was particularly severe on
Mushtaq as he spanked him for two consecutive boundaries and produced a
classy sweep to the mid-wicket fence in his next over. Mushtaq, coming
back into the Test team after a long gap, conceded as many as 204 runs
in his 43 overs and never really seemed to trouble the Indians who are
good players of spin bowling.
The Pakistani openers
Taufiq Umar and Imran Farhat, needing to bat for an hour, ensured that
there were no setbacks for the home team as the visitors put an
attacking field of four slips and a gully in a bid to make early
inroads. (Agencies)
Published: Monday,
March 29, 2004
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