Kolkata, February 15: Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar slammed two contrasting tons to lift India to a relatively good position against South Africa on Day 2 in the second Test here on Monday.
After being hit all over the park throughout the day, South African bowlers pulled something back at the fag end of the day by removing both Sehwag and Sachin. India ended Day 2 at 342/5 with VVS Laxman and Amit Mishra playing on 9 and 1 respectively.
If Sehwag’s 165 gave a feeling of rock music, Sachin’s 106 resembled more of a classical number, played with utmost maturity and dexterity. Sehwag threw his bat at everything thrown at him, while Sachin took calculated risks during their respective knocks. What was important that they never tried to copy each-other. Rather, they complemented each other during their 249-run partnership that helped India take 46-run lead at the stumps on Day 2.
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When it was looking that both the batsmen would remain unbeaten, Sehwag suddenly lost his concentration which cost his wicket. After playing a magnificent innings of 165 runs, Virender Sehwag gave a simple catch to the cover region off part-timer J P Duminy, who gave him a life in the second slip early in his innings.
Sehwag, who is known to score big hundreds, took just 174 balls, thrashing 23 fours and two sixes during his entertaining innings.
During his 19th century on Monday, which is also his maiden ton at Eden Gardens, Sehwag was in his typical murderous mood, putting every South African bowler to the sword.
He slammed his blazing century off just 87 balls to give India a solid platform in the second Test against South Africa. Sehwag’s blistering knock consisted of 16 fours and two huge sixes.
He started with faster bowlers Steyn and Morkel, hitting them with utmost ease in the beginning of the innings, and then, once left-arm spinner Paul Harris arrived on the scene, Sehwag bludgeoned him all over the park to fetch his entertaining century.
Sachin Tendulkar, who was watching his protégé making all the right noises at the other end, scored yet another Test century, his 47th of his career. Throughout his innings Sachin played a second fiddle to Sehwag and forged together over 200-run stand.
But unfortunately, he was also got out for 107 at first slip off spinner Paul Harris at the fag end of the Day 2. His mature knock came from 206 balls, consisting of just 12 hits to the fence.
After dismissing South Africa for just 296 runs, Indian openers- Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir- added salt to the visitors’ plight by playing some ruthless shots in the beginning of the Indian innings.
Sehwag, in particular, showed no respect for the South African faster bowlers and started to play shots all over the place. He helped India cross 50 off just 47 balls.
—Agencies