Cricket: New test world record looms

Virender Sehwag has scored the second fastest double-century in test match history and Rahul Dravid has made his 21st test hundred to guide India to 403 without loss on day four of the first cricket test against Pakistan in Lahore.

Sehwag ended the day on 247 with Dravid on 128 and the pair will resume on the final day 10 runs short of the world record for the highest opening stand, set by fellow Indians Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against New Zealand at Madras in 1956.

Despite the pair's heroics, India remains 276 runs behind Pakistan's imposing first innings of 679 for seven declared.

Sehwag scored his double hundred from 182 balls.

He has, however, criticised the state of the pitch, saying that the wicket is not good for cricket because it is so heavily in favour of the batsmen.

New Zealand's Nathan Astle holds the record for the fastest double hundred from 153 balls against England in 2000.

- NEWSTALK ZB