Sehwag scores 12th test hundred, India 230/2 at tea

St Lucia, June 10 (UNI) Led by Virender Sehwag's run-a-ball century India raced to 230 for two at tea of the first day's play of the second test.

India lost two wickets in the session after lunch but Sehwag remained unbeaten on 142, threatening to take the match away from the West Indies on the very first day.

Virender Sehwag tapped a single immediately after lunch to reach 12th test hundred, his second century against West Indies. Pedro Collins coming in for Fidel Edwards took two wickets back to back to stall the Indian march.

First to go was Wasim Jaffer who looked good for yet another big knock. Collins induced an edge off Jaffer that landed safely in the hands of Bravo at slips to get the first breakthrough for the West Indies.

Jaffer played beautifully both sides of the wicket to make 43 before falling. He added 159 runs with Sehwag for first wicket.

Collins was exacting some bounce off the pitch and was also able to produce enough outswing to trouble few Indian batsmen.

Next one to fall to his trap was VVS Laxman who was criticised by coach Chappell for throwing away his wicket in the first test.

Laxman slashed hard at Collins only to find a nick that wicketkeeper Ramdin pouched gladly.

India were 161 for 2 and Wes Indies looked a window of opportunity to peg back the Indians.

Sehwag knew very well by now that pitch was tailor-made to go all the way and displayed a more constrained batting in the second session.

There were boundaries still coming but with fielders pegged backwards, Sehwag and Dravid ran some quick singles too to keep the score ticking. Dravid played some beautiful starigt drives on his way to 34 not out at tea.

Dravid and Sehwag had added 69 runs for third wicket by tea.

Earlier, Sehwag missed scoring his hundred before lunch by just one run as the Indians scored at the rate of over five in the first session.

After Indian skipper Rahul Dravid won the toss and elected to bat first, Sehwag started confidently and dealt in boundaries right from the start. He hit beautiful cover drive to the boundary to open the scoring.

The pitch was plying good and Sehwag looked in all comfort against the pace of Pedro Collins and Jerome Taylor. He hit Taylor behind point and square leg boundary for fours.

Collins was not spared also, Sehwag hit a beautiful straight drive for four. After nine overs, India were 45 for 0 and skipper Lara took off Taylor and introduced Bravo from the pavilion end.

But Sehwag had good fare dished out for Bravo as well. He rocked on the back-foot to square cut a short delivery for four. He hit next ball for two on the leg side to raise India's fifty in ten overs. Bravo was in for some more harsh treatment next over.

Sehwag hit Bravo next over at extra cover for six to raise his fifty. He followed it with a cut that was in air for some time but dissected second slip and gully for four.

Bravo was then hit over fielder at long on for four. Next shot was even better, same place but it crossed the boundary for six.

Colymore was also taken to task, a delectable on drive for four followed by a cover boundary.

Sehwag had scored 99 off only 78 balls with 15 hits to the fence and 2 sixes.

Jaffer provided excellent foil to Sehwag as he guarded the other end with minimum fuss. Jaffer began sedately but later hit on both sides of the wicket to show that he was continuing the good form that fetched him a double ton in his last innings.

He was giving company to Sehwag at 34.

West Indies skipper Brian Lara tried all his five specialist bowlers but met with no success.

India made one change from the last test, Irfan Pathan coming in for Sreesanth.

West Indies have made two changes, bringing in Pedro Collins and Jerome Taylor for Dave Mohammad and Fidel Edwards.

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