Practice Match: Sehwag shines on final day

Agencies

Posted online: Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 0925 hrs IST

Canberra, January 12:
Virender Sehwag (113) struck a scintillating century on the third and final day of the practice match against ACT XI here to push his candidature for the third Test in Perth, beginning next week.

Sehwag and Dinesh Kaarthick (97) shared a 158-run opening stand, after the hosts had declared their innings on the overnight score of 292 for eight.

India went to the tea break at 281 for four with Rahul Dravid (16) and Irfan Pathan (18) at the crease.

India now have a healthy lead of 314 runs.

Sehwag was in a punishing mood and started the onslaught right from the first over as he sent three balls to the fence, giving ample hints of his intentions.

Sehwag consumed just 78 balls for his fiery knock, which was studded with 18 boundaries and two sixes.

Left arm chinaman bowler Mark Higgs broke the partnership when he had Sehwag caught behind, but by then the duo had put on 158 runs in just 25.4 overs.

Kaarthick, who was cautious initially, opened up after the lunch break but missed a well deserved century just by three runs.

However, he like Sehwag, did enough to put his hand up for a place in the final eleven and also added 80 runs for the second wicket with Wasim Jaffer (21).

Kaarthick struck 12 boundaries, eight of which came after completing his half-century, before being trapped by spinner Ryan Bulgar.

Yuvraj Singh's bad run continued as he failed to score once again, getting out for just 3, after facing 12 balls.

Higgs was the pick of the bowler, who claimed two wickets for 120 runs.