Ahmedabad, Nov 4: Virender Sehwag got India off to a solid start in the first Test of the three match series being played against New Zealand. Sehwag hit an imposing 173 that helped India finish Day 1 of the Test match, being played at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, with a commanding total of 329 for 3.
Earlier in the day, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni finally won the toss, after losing 9 previous tosses in a row, and opted to bat first. Opener Gautam Gambhir and middle order star batsman VVS Laxman, both of who were unavailable for the recently concluded second Test of the 2010 Border Gavaskar Trophy due to injury, made a comeback to the playing XI. Kane Williamson and Hamish Bennett made their respective Test debuts for New Zealand.
The Indian openers got off to a brisk start as Sehwag and Gambhir brought up the first 50 runs in just 68 deliveries. And even though Gambhir (21) was clean bowled by part time New Zealand bowler Jesse Ryder with the score at 60, Sehwag played with gay abandon.
He hit the New Zealand bowlers to all parts of the ground, not allowing them any respite whenever he came on strike. He brought up his 22nd Test ton in just 111 deliveries that included as many as 17 fours. Dravid meanwhile was content to play the role of anchor at the other end. He was solid in defense and hardly gave the New Zealand bowlers any whiff of an opportunity to dismiss him.
The Sehwag-Dravid partnership for the second wicket produced 237 runs for India and was brought to an end by Daniel Vettori who dismissed Sehwag for an individual score of 173. Sehwag’s innings, a Diwali special, came in just 199 deliveries at a strike rate of 86.93 and included 24 fours and one six. Dravid fell soon after to Kiwi paceman Chris Martin but not before he too had helped himself to yet another Test century. Riding on those two innings India finished the day, well and truly on top, with Sachin Tendulkar (13*) and VVS Laxman (7*) at the crease for a total of 329 for 3.
Brief Score – India 1st innings 329 for 3 (Virender Sehwag 173, Rahul Dravid 104, Jesse Ryder 1-44)
