- 410 runs by Virendra Sehwag and Rahul Dravid against Pakistan in 2006
The drawn the First Test of the 3-match 2006 series between India and Pakistan was played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, between 13th and 17th January 2006.
Pakistan, led by Inzamam-ul-Haq, won the toss and elected to bat. Aided by wonderful batting display by Younis Khan (199), Mohammad Yousuf (173), Shahid Afridi (103) and an unbeaten 102* runs by Kamran Akmal, the home team put up a massive total of 679 for the loss of 7 wickets and declared their innings.
The second wicket-partnership between Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan produced 124 runs while the third wicket-partnership between Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf realised a massive 319 runs. Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal got together and added 170 runs for the sixth wicket.
Commencing their reply, India opened with Virendra Sehwag and Rahul Dravid. Taking the Pakistan bowlers ‘head on’ the pair were together for 328 minutes and plundered runs at will.
Facing 247 deliveries, smashing 47 fours and a solitary six, quite unusual by Sehwag standards, he notched up 254 runs before Navad ul Hasan got the better of him. Sehwag, trying to lift to the third man, a short-rising delivery outside the off-stump, failed to keep it down. The ball kissed the bat and landed safely into the gloves of the wicket-keeper, Kamran Akmal, who made no mistake.
The partnership for the first wicket produced 410 runs. The pair failed to rewrite the record books, falling short by just 3 runs. The record Indian partnership for the openers still stands in the names of Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy, who put up 413 runs in 1956 playing against New Zealand.
Sehwag’s first 100 runs came in 93 balls with 20 hits to the fence while the second 100 came after facing 184 deliveries with the help of 36 fours and a six.
Playing an innings of utmost caution, Dravid notched up an unbeaten 128* runs facing 230 deliveries, studded with 18 fours. His century came in 200 balls assisted by 14 hits to the fence.
Weather-God played truant. An appeal for bad light was offered and accepted. The Umpires who decided to take Tea early, later on came out for an inspection and finally decided to call off the day”s play that ended the first Test in a draw.
