 Sehwag leads India's charge
 St. Kitts, June 26: Virender Sehwag eased India's anxiety with an innings of quality and luck after the West Indies set the visitors a monumental target of 392 on the fifth and final day of the third cricket Test here today. The dashing opener was unbeaten on 65 in his team's 109 for no loss by lunch to make the improbable task look possible at the Warner Park stadium.
India still require 283 runs from 62 overs which doesn't seem far-fetched given India's position and Sehwag's belligerence. Wasim Jaffer was unbeaten on 35 at the other end. The West Indies, who resumed at 113 for 4, declared after 40 minutes of batting at the 172 for 6. Sehwag made the most of a lucky reprieve Chris Gayle dropped him on five at first slip off the bowling of Jerome Taylor.
There was another let-off for him when Ramnaresh Sarwan, one of the two short extra covers posted for him, dropped a catch off Dwayne Bravo. Sehwag was then on 56 and the team total was 94 for no loss. Sehwag was distinctly in unease when West Indian quickees targeted short-pitched deliveries on his ribs and he tried to counter it by going for ungainly hooks. His first four was a top edge over the wicketkeeper, which raised his 4,000th run in Test cricket in his 48th Test. He needed three runs before the start of this innings.
Sehwag then overcame the early jitters and then settled down to play in his characteristic assured manner. He initially concentrated on picking his singles and playing in the gaps but then opened out alarmingly for the hosts. His straight drive off Dwayne Bravo, his sixth four, raised his half century from 60 balls. Jaffer was also solid as rock at the other end and concentrated on playing in front.
The 100 of the innings was up because of midfields and overthrows which gave Sehwag two extra runs in the penultimate over of the session. Earlier, the hosts added 59 runs from a mere eight overs this morning before captain Brian Lara called his men in. Daren Ganga, unbeaten on 44 last evening, was unbeaten on 66 when the declaration was made.
India struck two blows in the morning. Anil Kumble had Bravo caught in the deep in his very first over and then Samuels (20) was stumped off Harbhajan Singh with a delivery, which went straight. Kumble finished with 3 for 60 from his 12 overs. (Agencies)
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