Friday 28 March 2008

Sehwag shows his class with his triple ton

Virender Sehwag once again showed his class in the longer version of the game and when situation demanded a strong reply from India, he rose to the occasion and came up with an unbeaten triple century.

The stroke-filled ton is the third fastest double century in the history of international cricket in terms of balls faced (the record for second fastest ton is also in his name). Sehwag completed his 200 in 194 balls. The world record is in New Zealand's Nathan Astle's name who hit a double ton on 153 balls against England.

Such was Sehwag mastery and savagery with the bat that he totally dominated the day. Of the India's score, he had more than 2/3rd of runs scored by him alone. Wasim Jaffer gave him an able support and his 73 proved valuable for India.

With Twenty 20 changing the cricketing world, it was suddenly a different sport when Indian pacers held the ball on the first day of the Chennai test against South Africa. No one denies any of the achievements of the younger lot but the fact remains that when it comes to the five day game, the test cricket, India needs experienced hands like Virendra Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who have together tens of thousands of runs under their belt.

It was Sehwag's 14 test century. No mean achievement considering that he has long overtaken Asian run machine Zahir Abbas and is now at par with GR Vishwanath as far as Test centuries are concerned. This is the second triple century of his career that puts him in the elite club of Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara, both of whom have two triple centruies each to their credit.

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