On today: Close to miss milestone as Sehwag and Dravid’s epic partnership falls simply quick
On today in 2006, throughout the first Check between India and Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, openers Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid put up a monumental 410-run partnership, whereas narrowly lacking the world document for the best opening stand in Check cricket by simply three runs.
The prevailing document for the best opening partnership was set by India’s Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad, who amassed 413 runs in opposition to New Zealand in 1956. Sehwag and Dravid’s partnership appeared poised to surpass this milestone as they dominated the Pakistani bowling assault on a flat deck.
Sehwag’s explosive innings
Sehwag was at his flamboyant greatest, scoring 254 runs off 247 balls, together with 47 boundaries and a six. His innings was marked by a speedy acceleration, reaching his double century off simply 182 balls, making it one of many quickest in Check historical past.
On the different finish, Dravid supplied the right foil to Sehwag’s aggression. The Indian captain scored an unbeaten 128 runs off 233 balls, displaying his trademark endurance and technical capability. His stable protection ensured the partnership remained unbroken all through the fourth day.
Climate performs spoilsport
Because the duo inched nearer to the document, inclement climate intervened. Fog and dangerous gentle curtailed play on the ultimate day, permitting solely 14 balls to be bowled. In that temporary interval, Sehwag was dismissed, caught behind off the bowling of Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, leaving the partnership tantalisingly in need of the world document.
The Check match itself was a high-scoring affair, with Pakistan declaring their first innings at 679 for 7, because of contributions from Younis Khan (199), Mohammad Yousuf (173) and down the order Shahid Afridi (103) and Kamran Akmal (102*) slammed centuries too. India responded strongly, reaching 410 for 1 earlier than the match led to a draw attributable to time misplaced to rain interruptions.
Curiously, Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad’s document opening stand of 413 runs was damaged by South Africa openers Neil McKenzie and Graeme Smith two years later in Chittagong, by scoring 415 runs. Sehwag and Dravid’s 410-run stand is third within the checklist.
