Cricket: India pile on runs, pressure

New Zealand have not had to wait long to learn the enormity of their task in the test cricket series against India.

A fabulous century from Virender Sehwag placed the hosts in the box seat after the first day of the first test at Sardar Patel Stadium here today.

The effervescent 32-year-old hit a stylish 173 to pilot India to a formidable 329 for three, helped out by Rahul Dravid, who contributed a workmanlike 104 in a blunt hint that he has emerged from a recent form slump.

These two shared an Indian record second wicket stand against New Zealand of 237, bettering the previous best of 204 between Sunil Gavaskar and Surinder Amarnath at Auckland in 1976.

The Indians will resume tomorrow seeking to methodically bat the tourists out of the match with Sachin Tendulkar on 13 and in pursuit of an unprecedented 50th test century, and VVS Laxman on seven.

New Zealand were on the back foot as soon as Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and predictably chose to bat on a featherbed of a pitch, which last year coughed up seven centuries and close to 1600 runs during a high scoring draw between India and Sri Lanka.

Sehwag was insatiable, going hard at the bowling from the outset as he grabbed the early initiative and refused to let go.

After part-time medium pacer Jesse Ryder dismissed Gautam Gambhir for 21 in the 12th over of the morning, New Zealand were reduced to the role of ball chasers as Sehwag and Dravid imposed themselves on a pitch offering absolutely no encouragement to the tourists.

The forthright Sehwag, who was dropped on 144 and 155, finally departed midway through the final session when he played a tired stroke to New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and watched as the ball deflected off his pad on to the stumps.

Sehwag's 22nd test century contained 24 fours and one six and came off just 199 deliveries, a breakneck scoring rate compared to 37-year-old Dravid, who picked up the pace after a pedestrian start and required 216 balls and 246 minutes to reach his 30th test hundred.

He fell victim to the second new ball 30 minutes before the close when dragging a ball from fast bowler Chris Martin on to his stumps.

- NZPA