On this day, Virender Sehwag Scored His Two Test Triple Centuries in 2004 and 2008

On this day, Virender Sehwag made one of his two triple centuries in Test cricket. The first of his two triple centuries came against arch-rivals Pakistan in Multan in 2004. In the victorious Test match, India declared on 675-5 after electing to bat first. Sehwag brought his triple hundred in the 122nd over in the first innings and got dismissed for 309 off 375 deliveries.

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The explosive opener’s knock contained 39 fours and six sixes. Along with Sachin Tendulkar, he added 336 for the fourth wicket with Sachin scoring 194 in the first innings. A fifty from Yuvraj Singh and valuable contributions from Aakash Chopra and VVS Laxman boosted India to a mammoth total. Helped by half-centuries from Yasir Hameed and captain Inzamam Ul-Haq, Pakistan scored 407 in their first innings.

Useful knocks by Mohammed Yousuf, Imran Farhat, and Abdul Razzaq weren’t enough for India to make them bat again. Even a hundred from Yousuf in the second innings wasn’t sufficient as the hosts crashed to 216 to concede the victory by an innings and 52 runs. Anil Kumble picked six wickets in the second innings to follow his two from first. However, it was Sehwag, who took the man of the match award.

319 vs South Africa:

Sehwag’s second triple-century came at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 2008 against South Africa. In reply to tourists’ 540 aided by Hashim Amla’s 159, India came out all guns blazing. Along with Wasim Jaffer, the 41-year old put an opening stand of 213 for the opening wicket. When Jaffer exited, Sehwag shared another double-century partnership (268) with Rahul Dravid.

Sehwag reached his triple hundred in 278 balls in the 101st over by taking a single off Makhaya Ntini. At the 112th over, Ntini claimed his wicket for 319 off only 304 deliveries that sent the Chennai crowd into silence. Eventually, India’s innings came to a close at 627. As immovable as the Proteas appeared in their first innings, they battled tirelessly in the second as well to salvage a draw.

A blistering triple-century trumped over centuries from Amla and Neil Mckenzie’s hundreds in the first and second innings respectively to take the man of the match award.

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