Ton-up Sehwag & Dravid Punishes New Zealand

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori ends Virender Sehwag 173 innings.

Ahmedabad: Opener Virender Sehwag struck a sparkling 173 and Rahul Dravid 104 return in form as India reached 329-3 at stump on the opening day of the first cricket Test against New Zealand on Thursday.

Sehwag has hit 24 fours and a six in his 199-ball knock and shared 237 runs for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid (104) at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Indians dominated the second session, putting on 116 runs off 32 overs without losing a wicket to put pressure on the New Zealand bowlers who struggled in batsman-friendly conditions.

But in final session New Zealand some relax because they sent back both Sehwag and Dravid.

First skipper Vetorri struck to dismiss Sehwag and then Martin bowled Dravid with new ball.

Sehwag brought off his 22nd Test century in style, dancing down the track to loft left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for a four over mid-off.

Dravid, going through a lean spell with the bat this year, was dropped on 28 by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins who failed to latch on to a low chance off the bowling of part-time medium pacer Jesse Ryder.

The veteran batsman then opened up to play some of his trademark drives, completing his 30th Test century.

The tourists also missed a golden chance to dismiss Sehwag on 144, with off-spinner Jeetan Patel failing to hold on to a catch off his own bowling.

The day belonged to Sehwag, who entertained the fans with a breathtaking array of shots all around the ground.

The dashing batsman put on 60 runs with Gautam Gambhir, the duo surpassing the 3,010-run tally of Chetan Chauhan and Sunil Gavaskar to become the most prolific opening pair for India.

Sehwag started off aggressively, hitting fast bowler Chris Martin for three fours in the third over of the day before Ryder struck to dismiss Gambhir, who inside-edged onto the leg-stump while attempting a drive.

At stump on day one Sachin Tendulkar (13) on crease with VVS Laxman (7)

Brief scores
India 329 for 3 (Sehwag 173, Dravid 104)