Sehwag shines for India against Pakistan by AFP

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Ground:	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Scorecard:	Pakistan v India
Event:	India in Pakistan 2005/06

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DateLine: 15th January 2006

 

Virender Sehwag defied Pakistan's pace attack in murky weather to keep India's hopes alive of saving the first cricket Test here on Sunday.

 

India, needing 480 runs to avoid the follow-on after Pakistan amassed 679-7 in their first innings, closed the truncated third day's play at 145 for no loss.

 

Sehwag, 36 overnight, galloped to 96 off 89 balls with the help of 20 boundaries, while captain Rahul Dravid was unbeaten on 37.

 

Play, which began 45 minutes late due to bad light, lasted only 12 overs in the morning session and just three more overs were sent down after lunch before umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen abandoned proceedings for the day.

 

"It is unfortunate we could not get much of a game today but the Test is not over by any means," said Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq.

 

"Hopefully the weather will be better on the fourth and fifth day because we have the runs on the board and can keep India under pressure.

 

"If we can get a few early wickets tomorrow, we will have a chance to press for victory.

 

"The problem is that it is not easy to get wickets on this good track. The bowlers will really have to bend their backs to get something out of this wicket."

 

Indian coach Greg Chappell was delighted with his openers.

 

"It is not easy to go out there against a 650-plus total but Sehwag and Rahul played really well despite the inconsistent light.

 

"It was good to see Sehwag timing the ball so well. And Rahul was solid as ever. Hope they go on in the same vein on Monday."

 

The belligerent Sehwag scored 60 of the 80 runs made by India as he cut and drove his way out of trouble against the three-pronged Pakistan pace attack of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Rana Naved.

 

The easy-paced wicket on which the Pakistani batsmen prospered over the first two days played true to form to assist the Indian reply despite the poor visibility.

 

Sehwag, who scored India's first triple century during India's last tour of Pakistan two years ago, appeared to find his batting touch after a lean home series against Sri Lanka.

 

Sehwag on-drove Naved, then twice slashed Akhtar to the point boundary before taking three fours in one over off Naved. He reached his half-century with two consecutive boundaries off Akhtar and moved from 88 to 96 with two more fours off Sami.

 

Akhtar appeared to be limping after bowling his eighth over but Inzamam-ul-Haq said his premier fast bowler was raring to go.

 

"It was a slight strain in the ankle, nothing serious," the Pakistan captain said. "He is keen to get back into the middle again."

 

Bad weather has been forecast over this eastern Pakistani city for the next three days.

 

The second Test will be played in Faisalabad from January 21-25 and the third in Karachi from January 29-February 2.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)