Harbhajan rues Sehwag dismissal

India rode on Virender Sehwag's record-equalling half-century to reach 110-2 in their first innings in reply to Australia's 428 in the opening Test on Saturday

India rode on Virender Sehwag's record-equalling half-century to reach 110-2 in their first innings in reply to Australia's 428 in the opening Test on Saturday.

The Indian opener scored a blazing 59 off 54 balls with 10 fours in the final session after Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine (92) had missed out on a maiden Test hundred on the second day.

Sehwag equalled the record of scoring a 50 or more in 11 consecutive Tests. West Indies' Viv Richards and Indian Gautam Gambhir are the other batsmen to have achieved the feat.

Sehwag went for his shots and raced to his half-century off 38 balls. "It would've been nice to have Sehwag at the end of the day. We all know what kind of batsman he is. He likes to dominate attacks. He has won a lot of matches for us because of great starts," said Harbhajan Singh.

Virender Sehwag plays a flick during his knock of 59. PIC/AFP

"We just need to bat well in the first innings. Bowlers had to work hard because the wicket is not
helping.

"Zaheer bowled well. We had just three bowlers and he bowled his heart out. He is smart with reverse swing."
With fast bowler Ishant Sharma unable to bowl after leaving the field on Friday due to a leg injury, India took the second new ball after 146.4 overs, relying on spinners Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan.

Sharma bowled just two overs before being replaced with Ojha. Zaheer claimed a big wicket with the new ball when he had Paine caught by VVS Laxman.