Sultan of Multan & Lahore - Nawab of Najafgarh - Sehwag

This post is as fresh as the cricketing history that just got made. Viru seems to have a penchant for the Pakis, like Woolmer always claimed. Just now, Viru got his double ton against the Pakis in the first test in Allianz Series ongoing now.


V Sehwag - 200 runs in 182 balls with 38 fours and 1 six

And this is how it happened... (Courtesy: cricinfo.com)
57.4 Naved-ul-Hasan to Sehwag, one run, short and a bit of width, Sehwag
cuts uppishly and the ball almost carries to the third-man
fielder. That brings up the second fastest double-century in the
history of Test cricket
57.4 Naved-ul-Hasan to Sehwag, (noball) FOUR, this one is through cover,
what a beauty! Sehwag gets into perfect position and plays a
copybook coverdrive to race to 199, fourth consecutive boundary!
57.3 Naved-ul-Hasan to Sehwag, FOUR, short and wide, catch it is the
call, it's nowhere near a fielder, another boundary, Sehwag goes
to 195
57.2 Naved-ul-Hasan to Sehwag, FOUR, the bowler comes round the stumps,
changing the angle, the result is the same, crashed inside out
through cover!
57.1 Naved-ul-Hasan to Sehwag, FOUR, this one is carved through third-
man to bring up the Indian 300

Some of the other records that were set or broken en route:
1. Fastest Test 100 by an Indian Opener - Sehwag's 100 in 93 balls broke the record previously held by Gavaskar (100 in 94 balls)
2. Biggest Opening Partnership at the Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium
3. Second Fastest Test 200 by Sehwag, the fastest being Astle's 222 in 168 balls (200 in 153 balls) and beating Gibbs's 200 in 211 balls.

The other day when 4 blistering 100s were hit by the Pakis, I bet Sehwag would have been feeling so restless in his place. His thoughts would have been "Wait till I get there..." and today he is clobbering the Paki attack to his heart's content. So much that the Indian bowlers sitting in the stands and watching Sehwag massacre their Paki counterparts must be feeling vindicated.

The Nawab of Najafgarh got the title Sultan of Multan when he got his first 300 against the Pakis at Multan in 2004. He would now be the Sultan of Multan and Lahore. :-)

BTW, the best 1st Wkt partnership was 413 by India (537-3d) v New Zealand at Chennai during 1955/56. Is this in sight now? Maybe... ;-)

Thanks to Maverick for some of the stats mentioned above.

Update at 4:35PM Jan 16th
- Another record by Sehwag. Lets see where he takes it!

73.2 Shoaib Malik to Sehwag, FOUR, just a touch short and Sehwag plays
  the most delicate of late cuts, that is a great shot to bring up
  45 boundaries, the most by an Indian in a Test innings beating
  Laxman's 44 in his 281 versus Australia

Update at 4:48PM Jan 16th
- The light has been offered and it has been taken. Ind - 403/0. At the end of day 4, Sehwag's score stands at 247 in 240 balls with 46 boundaries and a six. Dravid is on 128 n.o.
- With 46 boundaries, Sehwag has struck the second most boundaries in a Test Innings. Only Edrich has more. (Thanks Mav.)

Update at 7:02PM Jan 16th
- For a list of records that were broken on day 4 of the first test, check this page at cricinfo.
- The best 1st wicket partnership that is being held by India was set in 1955. Prem Panicker recounts that match at his blog. In all possibility, India will reset that record again on Day 5.
- Match report on rediff for Day 4 of the test by Prem. Like every cricket crazy Indian who watched Sehwag clobber the Paki attack is in a state that can vary anywhere between dazed to euphoric, Prem too is overwhelmed. Prem, me too!

Update at 8:38PM Jan 16th
- Sehwag quotes during a pre-match interview today morning: "I have a funda for myself in cricket. If I see a ball, I hit it. Does not matter if I am on 0, or 90 or even 99!"
Now you know what makes the man go ballistic with innings like these...