Sehwag and Sachin tons helped India to march towards big first inning lead

Virendra Sehwag (165 runs) and Sachin Tendulkar (106 runs) scored a brilliant century to give India a valuable lead of 46 runs at the end of second days play in the 2nd test at eden garden,kolkata. This could be have been more disastrous situation for South Africa if they didn’t got three quick wickets in the last six overs just before close of play.

Virendra Sehwag who got two lives in his knock of 165 runs make full use of the batting condition in the first two session of play and hit all South African bowlers out of the park. Out of 165 runs he has scored 104 runs with the help of boundaries.

After having bowled out South Africans for 296 runs, India started their innings at brisk pace with Gautam Gambhir and Virendra Sehwag came out all guns blazing, scoring 73 runs for the first wicket in just 9.2 overs before devil entered Sehwag mind and that gave South African their first wicket of the Indian innings when he ran out his partner Gautam Gambhir (25 runs).

This run out not only holds Sehwag from playing his free flowing strokes but three overs later it allowed South Africa to get another wicket in the face of M.Vijay (5 runs). At 82/2, it could have any ones game when little master joined Virendra Sehwag at the crease.

As the over passed by both started to get into their grooves and played some sensational strokes to rattle the South African bowling attack. First, Sehwag went on to score his 19^th test century and then Sachin went on to score his 47^th test century and fourth in consecutive test match. With this century Sachin also get closer to achieving another mile stone called “century of century”, Tendulkar needs another eight century to complete his 100 century in international cricket.

The duo put of 249 runs for the third wicket before South African somewhat tried to get back into the game with late three wickets in the last half-hour of play.

Virendra Sehwag who got two lives in his inning, first when he was dropped by JP Duminy in first slip on the bowling of M.Morkel on 47 and then on 126 AB Devilliers missed a simple stumping chance, didn’t had any more luck left and finally dismissed by JP Duminy in his very first over.

In the very next over for the second successive time, Paul Harris dismissed the little master for 106 runs. Dale Styen came back two overs later to get the wicket of S.Badrinath. It could have been worst situation for India, if Kallis stick to a catch of Laxman of Harris which flew past him when he was on 5 runs.

At the end of days play, Laxman was batting on 9 runs and Amit Mishra batting on 1 runs with M.S.Dhoni and bowlers still to follow. India must get a lead of 150 plus to put immense pressure on South Africans otherwise anything could happen in the fifth and final day when India came out to bat again.

Match Summary (Day2 Stump)

South Africa 1^st Inning– 296/10 in 85 Overs

H.Amla- 114                                       A.Petersen– 100

Zaheer Khan- 22-5-90-4                    Harbhajan Singh– 24-2-64-3

India 1^st Inning– 342/5 in 76 Overs

V.Sehwag- 165                                   S.Tendulkar– 106

Dale Styen- 17-4-66-1                        J.P.Duminy– 1-0-4-1

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