Sehwag Sets Wankhede Ablaze

Virender Sehwag slammed a magnificent hundred to place his team at comfortable 278 for two on the
opening day as India set the stage for a big total in the first Test against West Indiesat the Wankhede Stadium today.

Sehwag hit a career-best 147 with 24 fours and three sixes and and put on 201 runs for the first wicket with SanjayBangar who made a solid 55 after India had elected to bat on a newly-laid pitch.

Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar carried forward the good work of the twoyoungsters, adding 65 for their unfinished third wicket after both the openers were dismissed in quicksuccession in the final session of play.

When stumps were drawn, Dravid was batting on 28 off 71 balls while Tendulkar was on 35 off 82 deliveries.

Sehwag and Bangar, who were discovered as India's latest opening pair on the tour of England, once again staked a claimfor a permanent status as Test openers as they complimented
each other well on their way to a record partnership.

While Sehwag demolished the West Indian attack in his characteristic flamboyant manner, Bangar played the ideal foiland ensured that India did not lose any early wicket. Together they frustrated the West Indian attack for more than four andhalf hours before falling within 12 runs of each other.

But that was not before they had registered India's best opening wicket stand against West Indies, improving upon the153 by Sunil Gavaskar and Chetan Chauhan in the 1978-79 series against the AlvinKallicharan-led side at the same venue.

Sehwag and Bangar also posted India's first double century opening wicket stand after the pair of Gavaskar andChauhan had done so against Pakistan in 1986-87.

Sehwag, whose earlier two Test centuries had come outside the country, did the bulk of the scoring in that partnership,leaving Bangar far behind.

In India's lunch score of 75 without loss, Sehwag's contribution was 53. He had alreday crossed his third Testcentury and was batting on 124 when India took tea at 175 without loss.

Sehwag started a bit shakily but soon took control of the proceedings as he sent the West Indian bowlers on aleather hunt.

In company of his partner, he completely frustrated the three-pronged West Indian pace attack of which only MervynDillon was impressive. Dillon, who sent down an opening spell of six overs for seven runs, dismissed both Sehwag and Bangarto finish with two for 30 from his 16 overs.

But that was all that West Indian captain Carl Hooper got on the first day of his 100th Test. The other bowlers were farfrom impressive and were tore apart by a rampaging Sehwag who completed his hundred off 138 balls with 19 fours and a six.

Bangar also opened up a bit after lunch and cut Dillon for a four before lofting Ryan Hinds for a six over long-on.He reached his half-century shortly after the tea-break and was let off on 53 once before being caught by Ramnaresh Sarwan off Dillon.

Sehwag, in the meanwhile, hit two more sixes, one each off Mahendra Nagamootoo and Ryan Hinds. He was on 137 whenBangar was dismissed and added 10 more runs before being caught by a diving Ridley Jacobs off Dillon.

The spotlight then shifted to the Dravid and Tendulkar, who have been India's highest run-scorers in Test cricket thisyear. Dravid had become the first batsman to cross 1,000 runs this year during the tour of England last month.

Today it was Tendulkar's turn to reach the milestone. He completed 1000
runs when he reached 14.

Tendulkar was lucky to have been dropped by Jacobs who juggled with the ball before grassing it. But just two ballslater, he cut Ryan Hinds to the point boundary. He also played a delectable square drive and an elegant glance off leg-spinner Nagamootoo for boundaries.

At the other end, Dravid, who has scored centuries including a double ton in his last three innings, played an
usual sedate knock.

West Indies have so far tried nine bowlers but none have been impressive except Dillon.

Earlier, Hooper and Tendulkar were felicitated by Indian cricket board president Jagmohan Dalmiya and Mumbai CricketAssociation chief Sharad Pawar for playing 100 Tests.

Hooper is playing in his 100th Test here while Tendulkar featured in his 100th in the fourth and final Test against England at the Oval last month.

PTI