Sehwag, Dravid slam centuries to boost India<\/p>\n
Reuters, Cochin, India<\/p>\n
Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid struck fighting centuries as
\nIndia posted 281 for eight from their 50 overs in the first one-
\nday international against Pakistan on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The two shared in a 201-run stand of the third wicket,
\nrescuing the hosts after they were reeling at four for two on a
\nflat wicket in hot, humid conditions.<\/p>\n
Sehwag cracked nine fours and three towering sixes in his
\nexplosive 95-ball 108 and Dravid had six hits to the fence in his
\n104 off 139 deliveries.<\/p>\n
Pakistan, however, will still fancy its chances by restricting
\nIndia to less than 300 on a wicket offering no assistance to the
\nbowlers.<\/p>\n
The visitors got off to a great start, Rana Naved having
\nSachin Tendulkar (4) caught while hitting an awkward pull.<\/p>\n
Saurav Ganguly, battling critics of his poor batting form, did
\nnot do much to strengthen his case. The Indian captain was bowled
\nround his legs for a first ball duck as he shuffled across his
\nstumps to flick.<\/p>\n
Ganguly had averaged 9.6 in the three test series, which ended
\nin a 1-1 draw on Sunday.<\/p>\n
India could have been in deeper trouble with Sehwag leading a
\ncharmed life at the crease.<\/p>\n
The opener was dropped first-ball by Mohammad Hafeez at point
\nand then again on eight when wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal could not
\nhold on to an edge off Mohammad Sami.<\/p>\n
Sehwag made Pakistan pay for those lapses, batting sedately
\ntill he got to his 50 and then going after the bowling.<\/p>\n
The 26-year-old pulled, cut and drove viciously, racing from
\n50 to his seventh one-day 100 in just 29 balls.<\/p>\n
He was finally bowled by Abdul Razzaq while trying to heave
\nhim across the line.<\/p>\n
Wickets started to tumble once again after Sehwag's dismissal,
\nYuvraj Singh (16), Mohammad Kaif (7) and Mahendra Dhoni (3)
\nfalling to off-spinner Arshad Khan.<\/p>\n
Dravid completed his 10th one-day century with a single to
\nsquare leg but did not last for too long after that, run out to a
\ndirect hit by Sami while going for a quick single.<\/p>\n
Arshad came back strongly from early punishment by Sehwag to
\nfinish with four wickets for 33 from six overs.<\/p>\n
In Georgetown, Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored his maiden double
\ncentury amid a flurry of records as a weakened West Indies
\ncontinued to dominate the first test against South Africa in
\nGeorgetown on Friday.<\/p>\n
When bad light ended play on the second day, South Africa were
\ntwo without loss in reply to West Indies first innings of 543 for
\nfive declared.<\/p>\n
Chanderpaul scored 203 not out off 370 balls with 23 fours,
\neclipsing his best score of 140 made against India on the same
\nground in 2002.<\/p>\n
Earlier Wavell Hinds was finally dismissed for 213, the
\nhighest score by a West Indian against South Africa, beating
\nBrian Lara's 202 in Johannesburg in 2003-04.<\/p>\n
Hinds and Chanderpaul, who came together with West Indies on
\n106 for three, shared a 284-run fourth wicket partnership, a
\nrecord for any wicket against South Africa.<\/p>\n
\"You don't expect to be given runs by South Africa,\" said
\nChanderpaul.<\/p>\n
\"It was up to us to go out there and do our jobs as batsmen.\"<\/p>\n
The morning session was reduced to an hour's play because of
\nmopping up operations following overnight rain.<\/p>",
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