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Viru steers India to 184/1 at stumps
Sehwag was left five runs short of his 9th Test ton after a rain-hit second day. Action replay | Player of the day| Scorecard
Virender Sehwag gave a ruthless exhibition of strokeplay with an unbeaten 95 as India took firm control of the first cricket Test against arch-rivals Pakistan on a rain-hit second day.
After three-and-half hours of play were lost due to persistent drizzle, Sehwag set the PCA Stadium ablaze with his strokes to steer the home team to a comfortable 184 for one at close, 128 runs adrift of Pakistan's first innings total.
The dashing opener cracked his ninth Test half-century and was batting with a confident Rahul Dravid giving him company on 39 before the day's play was called off due to bad light.
Sehwag and his opening partner Gautam Gambhir (41) provided a blazing start to the innings as they put on 113 runs for the first wicket and the Indian batsmen maintained the tempo scoring at a brisk pace to make amends for the lost time.
None of the Pakistani bowlers could make much of an impression despite the cloudy conditions as Sehwag launched his assault to enthrall a sizable crowd on a murky but satisfying day for the hosts.
India began their innings when Gautam Gambhir steered Sami for a four through the slip cordon and Sehwag himself was off the blocks with a streaky four through the slips at the other end.
But it was just the tonic Sehwag needed as he tore into Rana Naved-ul-Hasan drilling fours in the point region which led to the bowler requesting his captain Inzamam-ul-Haq to give him a protection in the area.
Sehwag still treated Rana with contempt and when the bowler pitched short, he cut him with all his might over third man for a six.
When Gambhir flicked Sami to mid-wicket fence the 50 of the innings was up in only 8.3 overs with the murderous Sehwag on 39 and his left-handed partner on eight.
Rana was taken off after four overs in which he was hit for four fours and a six. Mohammad Sami was only marginally better and conceded 29 runs in his five overs.
Both the bowlers were replaced with Abdul Razzaq and Danish Kaneria but the batsmen showed no inclination to drop down the gears.
