Sehwag smashes ton; India post 323/4

Ahmedabad: The word 'form' does not apply to Virender Sehwag. The Najafgarh Nawab, who was under criticism for his poor form off late, came up with a brilliant and belligerent century, ripping apart the English attack from the word go.

Sehwag's 23rd century came up in 90 balls before he was clean bowled by Graeme Swann for 117 runs that included 15 fours and a six. His stunning show until then had already given India an edge over England on day one.

Later on Cheteshwar Pujara anchored the Indian innings amidst some middle order collapse and scored a patient and sensible unbeaten 98 runs to take India 323 for four at the end of first day's play against England in the first Test match at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Earlier, after a swaggering show by opener Virender Sehwag, who scored a blazing 117, No.3 batsman Sachin Tendulkar failed to hold fort as he departed with just 13 runs.

Graeme Swann tested Indian batsmen as his second wicket after Gautam Gambhir was Sehwag, who after nearly 10 months of a lean patch had put on a century stand with Gambhir. The duo's effort gave India a grand start against the English.

Swann came back in the 57th over to pick up Tendulkar's wicket, who was caught by Samit Patel at deep mid-wicket.

Soon after, the man-in-form Virat Kohli (19) too was left puzzled by a spinning delivery from Swann that hit his stumps, leaving India 283 for 4.

However, Cheteshwar Pujara was rock solid at the other end and got an able company in Yuvraj Singh. The duo added 40 runs for the fifth wicket before the end of first day's play.

Earlier, Sehwag played a belligerent innings and raced to his 23rd ton before being bowled by Swann in the 51st over.

Earlier, the Nafajgarh Nawab gave a desired start to the Indian innings when he along with Gautam Gambhir stitched their 11th century stand for the opening wicket and their first in nearly two years.

The last century stand between them was the 137 at Centurion Park in second innings of the opening Test against South Africa in December, 2010.

Sehwag and Gambhir started a tad shakily with the latter inside-edging James Anderson close to his stumps for the first of his three boundaries and the former being almost bowled by Stuart Broad while attempting an expansive drive and missing the ball.

However, after Sehwag whipped a ball from Anderson off his hips for his first four in the fifth over, things settled down for the Delhi duo on a bone-dry wicket of a slow pace pitch where the ball hardly rose above shin level unless banged short.

Sehwag packed off Anderson from the attack by smacking him for three fours between third man and covers in the bowler's fourth over while Gambhir struck his second four by turning Broad off his legs. Anderson's opening spell was a costly 4-0-24-0.

The duo's aggressive batting helped India race to 50 in the 12th over and at the end of the first hour, the hosts were 61 without loss, prompting England to summon off-spinner Graeme Swann in place of Broad immediately after the first drinks break. Broad gave away 23 runs in his six-over spell.

Sehwag hit the accurate Tim Bresnan for a couple of boundaries in the off side when the bowler erred in line. The Najafgarh marauder pushed Swann for a single to the off to complete his 50 in 45 balls and 81 minutes.

It was the batsman's 33rd half ton in his 99th Test and the second after his second innings 62 against Australia in the fourth and final Test at Adelaide in January.

Growing in confidence, Sehwag blasted Bresnan for two four and a six over long on in successive balls to further stamp his authority on the proceedings.

Fifteen runs came off the 19th over of the innings as the home team's as well as the partnership's hundred came in the first ball of the next over in 89 minutes. It was the duo's first three-figure stand after 26 innings.

Bresnan, after his expensive sixth over, was replaced by Broad at the far end of the ground to bowl the 21st over. The pace bowler operated without a slip fielder against Sehwag just before lunch.

Just before the break, the visitors brought on left-arm spinner Samit Patel in place of Broad after the latter's 2-over second spell for seven runs and the bowler's first ball, a full toss, was hit for a boundary by Sehwag.

Sehwag went on to make 117 runs off the same number of deliveries before Swann clean bowled him in the 51st over. Meanwhile, Swann finished his day with all the four wickets that fell in the Indian innings.