- Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test
Sehwag celebrated the return of Test cricket to the Cricket Club of India (CCI) after nearly 37 years with a magnificent unbeaten 284 off 239 deliveries, batting nearly six hours and hitting as many as 40 boundaries and seven sixes.
At the other end, Dravid also looked quite comfortable as he finished unbeaten on 62 from 121 deliveries (five boundaries), the two batsmen having already added 222 runs in 224 deliveries for the second wicket.
India went past their own record for most runs in a day, as they finished Day 2 on a mammoth 443 for 1 in 79 overs, a lead of 50 runs, after Sri Lanka were dismissed for 393 in their first innings in the morning.
India's previous best score in a day's play was 419, in the previous Test in Kanpur.
The day belonged to Sehwag as he registered his sixth double century in Test cricket, his second double against Sri Lanka after the 201 not out he scored in Galle last year.
Sehwag single-handedly dominated the second day and was involved in two successive double century partnerships for the first and second wickets.
Murali Vijay, playing in only his second Test, played a fluent innings of 87 from 121 deliveries, hitting ten boundaries and a six, before he was dismissed leg before wicket by Rangana Herath.
The Tamil Nadu opener played a vital role in helping India get off to a blazing start as he added 221 runs for the opening wicket with Sehwag.
Earlier, Angelo Mathews fell agonizingly short of a maiden Test century when he was run-out for 99.
Resuming at their overnight score of 366 for eight, Sri Lanka lasted 26 minutes on the second day, adding 27 runs before losing their last two wickets in 34 deliveries.
All-rounder Mathews was the first to fall on the second day as he attempted a tight second run to complete his century, but Sachin Tendulkar caught him short with a brilliant throw from deep square leg.
Mathews stroked a breezy 99 from 131 deliveries, inclusive of hit 15 boundaries, before his dismissal reduced the visitors to 379 for nine in the 93rd over.
Pragyan Ojha finished off the innings when he trapped Chanaka Welegedara leg before wicket for eight. Harbhajan Singh was India's most successful bowler with figures of four for 112 in 32 overs, while Ojha claimed three for 101 in 23.4 overs.
On Day 1, Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed 109 from 160 deliveries, inclusive of ten boundaries and two sixes, his second century of the series to give the visitors a fine start.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 following the innings and 144-run victory in the second Test at Kanpur. The first Test in Ahmedabad ended in a high-scoring draw.
Morning session: (23.4 overs, 119 runs, 2 wickets)
Harbhajan started proceedings with the ball on the second day with a maiden over. At the other end, S Sreesanth was on the spot right from ball one, as he got Mathews to edge an outgoing delivery which fell short of VVS Laxman, at second slip, and went for a boundary.
A few deliveries later, Mathews clipped a full delivery on the pads through midwicket for his second boundary of the over and moved to 96.
But it was a case of so near yet so far for Mathews, as he was run-out for 99. The all-rounder, yet to score a century in Test cricket, went for a risky second run but Tendulkar's strong throw from deep square leg caught him a few inches short. (379-9, 92.4)
Last-man Chanaka Welegedara got off the mark in style, driving Sreesanth straight down the ground for a boundary. He then lofted Ojha for a boundary, but the bowler had the final say when he trapped Welegedara leg before wicket for eight to finish off the Sri Lankan first innings.
The visitors lasted just 26 minutes on the second day, adding 27 runs in 5.4 overs, before folding up for 393 in 94.4 overs.
Harbhajan Singh was India's most successful bowler with figures of four for 112 in 32 overs, while Ojha claimed three for 101 in 23.4 overs.
Sreesanth and Zaheer wasted the new ball, but made good comebacks with the old one, claiming a wicket each for figures of 1 for 70 and 1 for 82 respectively.
(India innings)
Having replaced the in-form Gautam Gambhir, Murali Vijay had big shoes to fill in. He started off confidently, flicking a full delivery from Welegedara through the leg side for a boundary in the first over of the innings.
Sehwag got his first boundary when he flicked Nuwan Kulasekara through mid-on in the fourth over of the innings. Vijay, meanwhile, was having a few problems against Welegedara as he edge an outgoing delivery but, luckily for him, it fell short of slips and went for a boundary.
Just like he did in Kanpur, Sehwag was content to get his eye in before having a go at the bowling. He hit his second boundary, slamming a full, wide delivery from Welegedara through the covers in the ninth over.
Once the spinners were brought on, Sehwag decided it was time to cut loose. He stepped down the track against Rangana Herath in his first over and lifted him over mid-on for a six, as India raced to 50 for no loss after ten overs.
It was as if Sehwag had suddenly decided to change gears as he thumped Welegedara for back-to-back boundaries in the 11th over.
Vijay also took cue from Sehwag's book and drove Herath for a boundary through the cover region in his next over to move to 26 from as many deliveries. Sehwag followed it up with another four when he flicked a full delivery from Kulasekara through midwicket in the 13th over.
With Sehwag going all guns blazing, Sri Lanka delayed the introduction of Muttiah Muralitharan. Herath continued getting punished as Sehwag launched him for his second six and in the same over brought up his half-century off 54 deliveries, having hit five fours and two sixes, as India reached 84 for no loss after 16 overs.
Sehwag also passed the 6,000-run milestone in Test cricket in his 123rd innings, becoming the third fastest to achieve the landmark after Sunil Gavaskar (117) and Sachin Tendulkar (120) in terms of innings played.
Herath conceded 26 runs in four overs before Sri Lanka decided to introduce Muttiah Muralitharan, not just to stem the flow of runs, but also make a breakthrough. But even the great spinner suffered in his first over, as Vijay drove him through the covers for a boundary to end the first session.
India were off to a flying start, having posted 92 for no loss in 18 overs at lunch. Sehwag had led the assault with a quickfire 53 from 60 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries and two sixes.
Vijay, playing in only his second Test, looked confident in scoring 38 from 49 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries.
All the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled and had no clue yet again about Sehwag's attacking batting. They need to scalp a few quick wickets after lunch else they face another dominating session by the Indian batsmen.
Post-lunch session: (27 overs, 168 runs, 1 wicket)
Sehwag continued to hit out after lunch. He started the first over of the session with a boundary, playing the late cut off Mathews for a four through the third man region.
In the next over, he showed little respect for Test cricket's highest wicket-taker, Muralitharan, as he played the reverse sweep for a boundary to take India past 100 in the 20th over.
The Sehwag-Muralitharan battle was turning out to be a fascinating one with the former looking to attack at every opportunity, and Muraliatharan using all his experience to keep him quiet. The first round was going Sehwag's way as he scored another boundary through the covers as Muralitharan pitched it a bit wide in the 22nd over.
Welegedara also came in for some punishment when Sehwag cut a short delivery through point in the next over to race to 73 from 74 deliveries.
Sehwag got his third boundary in as many overs off Muralitharan when he played the late cut through the vacant third man region to take his boundary tally to 10 for the innings.
Vijay got his first boundary of the session, a sweetly-timed one through the covers, off Welegedara in the 25th over of the innings.
There was no stopping Sehwag though as he went on a rampage against Muralitharan. He stepped down the wicket and hit him over long-off for the third six of his innings.
India were in complete control after lunch as the first eight overs after the break fetched 41 runs.
Vijay showed he also existed at the other end when he stepped down the wicket and slammed Muralitharan over midwicket for a six to complete his maiden half-century. The 25-year-old opener completed his fifty off 78 deliveries, having hit six boundaries and a six, in the 28th over.
India's innings was progressing at a staggering run rate of around five runs per over as the openers put on 154 runs in 30 overs
The problem for Sri Lanka was that both the batsmen were attacking the bowlers and even Vijay was starting to show the full repertoire of his shots as he played another cover drive for his eighth boundary to move to 67.
He got a reprieve on 69, when Herath, at mid-on, dropped a difficult chance -- diving to his right -- off Kulasekara. Sehwag then despatched the last delivery of the over for another boundary to move into the nineties.
Once again, Sri Lanka's premier bowler was finding it tough to impose himself, as he conceded 45 runs in seven overs, inclusive of two sixes and four boundaries, before he was replaced by Herath, who himself had given 26 in four overs.
Sehwag inched closer to his century, charging down the wicket and driving Herath straight down for a boundary to move to 96 from 97 deliveries.
He completed his century in style, playing the paddle sweep against Muralitharan for a boundary in the 34th over. It was his second century in a row and 17th overall. He took exactly 100 deliveries to reach the landmark, inclusive of 13 boundaries and three sixes.
Sehwag was now looked to shred the Lankan bowling to pieces and he slog-swept Herath for a huge six over midwicket. The first 18 overs before the lunch break had produced 92 runs, but the next 18 overs since the break produced a staggering 106 runs.
It was raining boundaries at the CCI as Sehwag lofted Muralitharan over the cover fielder for his 14th four to take India past 200 in the 37th over.
Sri Lanka continued employing the spinners, and Sehwag continued having a ball. He slammed his fifth six of the innings, hitting Herath over wide long-on, and the next ball used the reverse sweep again for a boundary.
Vijay looked well-set for his maiden century till he was dismissed leg before wicket by Herath. The right-hander tried to sweep Herath, but missed the ball and struck on the left pad right in front of the stumps. The Tamil Nadu batsman scored 87 from 121 deliveries, inclusive of ten boundaries and a six, adding 221 runs for the opening wicket with the Sehwag. (221-1, 39.1)
That dismissal saw India playing out just the second maiden over of the innings, as they put up 221 for one after 40 overs.
The proof of Sehwag's control came in the 43rd over when he opened the face of the bat and guided Kulasekara for a boundary through the vacant third man region. A few deliveries later he had a close shave when he just about managed to get the ball over Muralitharan, at mid-on, for a boundary.
Rahul Dravid flicked a full delivery from Kulasekara through midwicket for his first boundary of the innings and third of the over.
Sehwag raced to his 150 off 130 deliveries with a single off Muralitharan in the 45th over. Dravid then compounded Muralitharan's woes, hitting the off-spinner for two boundaries in a row to end the post-lunch session and remain unbeaten on 17 from 20 deliveries, inclusive of three boundaries.
Sehwag appeared to be tiring towards the end. He was unbeaten on an entertaining innings of 151 from just 131 deliveries, laced with 19 boundaries and five sixes.
At the tea break, India were well-placed on an imposing 260 for one in 45 overs. The Indian batsmen added 168 runs in 27 overs in the session, at more six runs per overs.
The Sri Lankan spinners continued to suffer. Muralitharan went for 74 runs in 11 overs and Herath claiming one for 62 in 11 overs, as Sehwag smashed 45 runs off 29 deliveries and 42 runs off 38 deliveries respectively against the two.
The Indian batsmen hit as many 22 boundaries and four sixes in the post-lunch session as Sri Lanka could only watch and suffer. If Sehwag continues for another hour or two, then the sparse gathering at the CCI can look forward to another entertaining session.
Post-tea session: (34 overs, 183 runs, 0 wicket)
Despite the break, Sehwag needed no time to get going. He stepped down, gave himself room and slammed Herath for a boundary through the covers off the first ball of the day's final session.
He seemed keen to deal only in boundaries, as he slapped a short delivery from Welegedara over point to bring up the 50-run partnership for the second wicket with Dravid in 45 deliveries. That didn't satisfy the Delhi opener. He then picked a full-pitched delivery from the left-arm pacer over the cover region for his sixth six of the innings to move to 166 in the 47th over.
A few quiet overs followed before Dravid broke the shackles by sweeping Herath for a boundary through square leg in the 52nd over. Sehwag also seemed bored by the proceedings as he walked across the stumps and hit Welegedara through midwicket for a four in the next over.
Sri Lanka's bowlers continued to err in length and Dravid made the most of it when he cut a short delivery from Herath for a boundary to bring up India's 300 in the 54th over.
The tourists' problems worsened when Welegedara was forced to discontinue his bowling after experiencing pain in his feet. Kulasekara replaced him, but Sehwag promptly despatched him for three successive boundaries to move to 196.
He completed his double century, his sixth in Tests, with a flicked boundary over midwicket against Kulasekara. He took just 168 deliveries to reach the landmark and register the second fastest double century in Test cricket after Nathan Astle, who hit his double century off 153 deliveries against England.
Sehwag had hit a massive 27 boundaries and six sixes, which meant 72 per cent of his runs in the double century had come through boundaries. It was a day when everything the dashing opener tried out worked to perfection.
He played the reverse sweep yet against Herath for a boundary in the 59th over and seemed in a hurry to get his third triple century, smashing Herath twice over extra cover region for two more boundaries in the 61st over.
Muralitharan was reduced to a mere spectator as Sehwag charged down the wicket and slammed a huge six to race to 228 off 185 deliveries.
Sehwag also broke the record for the highest individual score at the CCI when he overtook Vinoo Mankad's 223, scored against New Zealand in 1955-56.
Despite Sehwag making minimum effort he was rewarded with a boundary and proved it when he yet again opened the face of the bat and guided a short delivery from Mathews through midwicket for a boundary.
Muralitharan's suffering against Sehwag continued as he was carted for another couple of boundaries in the 66th over, and conceded 100 runs in 16 overs.
After the double century, Sehwag upped the ante a few notches as he completed the next 50 runs in just 39 deliveries. He completed his 250 off a mere 207 deliveries, having hit 34 boundaries and seven sixes, reaching the landmark for the fourth time in his career.
Sri Lanka didn't help their cause at all by continuing to err in line and length. Sehwag helped himself to another boundary through square leg as Mathews drifted on his pads, and a ball later India completed 400 in just 68.1 overs.
Even when he was beaten in the flight against Muralitharan, Sehwag had no problems lofting it over the bowler for a boundary, as India reached 406 for one in 70 overs. In Muralitharan's next over he stepped down the wicket and went for a huge shot but could not connect cleancly, yet he got an edge that flew past the vacant slip region for another four.
Dravid was hardly noticed as he cruised to his half-century off 95 deliveries, having hit five boundaries.
Sehwag, on 273, got a reprieve when Mahela Jayawardene failed to take a difficult low catch to his right off Tillakaratne Dilshan in the 73rd over. That single brought up the 200-run partnership for the second wicket in 204 deliveries as India reached 424 for one after 73 overs. This is also India's highest total in a day in Test cricket as they went past the 419 runs they made during the second Test in Kanpur.
At close on day two, India finished on a mammoth 443 for one in 79 overs at an amazing run rate of 5.6, having hit a total of 55 boundaries and eight sixes.
Sehwag has the chance to become the first man in the history of Test cricket to score three triple hundreds as he finished unbeaten on 284 from 239 deliveries, laced with 40 boundaries and seven sixes.
Dravid gave him good support with a composed innings of 62 from 121 deliveries with the two batsmen having added 222 runs for the second wicket.
Muralitharan's India sojourn kept getting worse as he was hit for 119 runs in 20 overs, while Herath took one for 112 in 22 overs.
After a good night's rest, India will be hoping Sehwag can carry on and get his third triple century, and, maybe, then look for four hundred.
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