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Sehwag-Pattinson add fuel to the fiery contest
Sehwag stroked one down the ground for a single, but while taking the run narrowly avoided the arm of Pattinson, on his follow through. A heated altercation ensued as Sehwag took objection to Pattinson stopping midway and gave the rookie pacer a piece of his mind. Rohit Bhaskar reports.
If ever any cricketer has come to typify aggression on the field it's Virender Sehwag - 8,000 Test runs at a strike rate of 82 just statistical proof of his belligerence. In Sehwag's case the anger is mostly directed at the ball. On Tuesday, however, Australian pacers James Pattinson and Peter Siddle attempted to play the aggressor's role against the most destructive batsman in world cricket - with mixed results one might add.
All in the game
Sehwag stroked one down the ground for a single, but while taking the run narrowly avoided the arm of Pattinson, on his follow through. A heated altercation ensued as Sehwag took objection to Pattinson stopping midway and gave the rookie pacer a piece of his mind.
Siddle joined Pattinson on the pitch, before Sehwag used his willow to direct him back to his fielding position.
Pattinson almost got his man, but Mike Hussey failed to hold the catch to hand Sehwag a lifeline. The opener made the most of it and completed his half-century. When Pattinson came back for his second spell there was added intensity in his run-up, which translated to added pace. Off the fifth ball, he almost got his man. Sadly, an over-enthusiastic Brad Haddin failed to collect a fairly regulation catch.
The last laugh
In the next over he hurled one at pace, which stuck Sehwag on the hips and restricted what little footwork he had shown in his innings. Four overs later, Pattinson finally broke through the defence as the right-hander dragged a wide ball onto his stumps. Pattinson may have won the battle, but it remains to seen who wins the war.
