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Day 3: Play called off due to bad light
Bad light played a dampener as Veeru (96) stood on the brink of a milestone.
Play was called off on the third day of the first Test between India and Pakistan due to inclement weather.
On a 'start-stop' day, only 15 overs could be managed. But that limited time was all that Sehwag needed to grind the opposition bowlers to dust.
Even under gloomy skies, it looked as if he wanted to equal Afridi's blitzkrieg as he dealt with boundaries only. With runs rocketing along from his blade, the 'Sultan of Multan' reached from his overnight score of 36 to 96.
Dravid (37), though not as explosive, ensured that the pressure was on the bowlers as he kept taking singles and giving the strike back to Sehwag. He diligently kept his end up and further frustrated the bowlers.
The placid track on which the Pakistani batsmen had made merry for two days, played true to form to assist the Indian reply despite the poor visibility.
Akthar, Naved and Sami were as blunt as butter and Sehwag made they pay for akward line and length.
India, 65-0 overnight, raced to 145 without loss in in reply to Pakistan's mammoth 679 for seven declared.
With bad weather forecast over this eastern Pakistani city for the next three days, things look dim for any conclusive result to emerge.
Post-Lunch Session (3 overs):
Resuming after lunch break, Sehwag continued grinding the opposition bowlers to dust and reached to 96 runs from 84 in just 3 overs. However bad light disrupted play yet again as the players walked back to the pavillion.
Morning Session (12 overs):
Bad light, due to overcast sky, stopped play again just minutes before lunch.
The session ended after just 12 overs in which the Indian openers smashed 67 runs.
Sehwag, as ever, looked in menancing mood as he clobbered Shoaib Akhtar to three boundaries in one over. He reached to his fifty in 49 balls.
After his milestone, he moved from third gear to top gear. Dealing only in fours, he dented Naved and Sami's confidence.
At one stage, Sehwag was 83 and Dravid at 34, both having faced 74 balls.He certainly had found his batting touch after a lean home series against Sri Lanka.
Dravid, although not as explosive, proved dogged and did not give an inch to the Pakistani bowlers.
Earlier, the play began 45 minutes late as bad light and over night rain kept the players on the pavillion.
