Dravid, Sehwag fall short of record, match ends in draw

    New Delhi/Bangalore/Kolkata: Relatives and fans of Indian skipper Rahul Dravid and opener Virender Sehwag gave a mixed reaction as the pair missed out on a world record in the weather affected first Test against Pakistan which ended in a predictable draw on Tuesday. The duo put on 410 runs before Sehwag was caught behind, of the bowling of Rana Naved for 254, leaving them three runs short of matching the best opening stand set by compatriots Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy in 1956. Replying to Pakistan's imposing first innings total of 679-7 declared, India had reached 410-1 when umpires Darrell Hair and Rudi Koertzen finally called off play on the final day after bad light forced the players off the field before tea. Captain Dravid (128) and VVS Laxman (0) remained not out at interval.

   India began the day on 403-0 but could only add seven runs in the 14 deliveries possible after overnight rain and bad light forced play to start 95 minutes after lunch. Sehwag fell after facing 247 balls with 47 fours and a six while Dravid played 233 balls and hit 19 boundaries in his knock. Sehwag's family in New Delhi sat glued to the television hoping for the record to be broken. His father, Krishna Sehwag said he had hoped his son would break Brian Lara's world record. "We were hoping that he will break Brian Lara's record. But it didn't happen. I am feeling bad," he said. However, his neighbours were not too disappointed with Sehwag missing the record. "He played very well. We are not that disappointed as he scored a double hundred. Both Sehwag and Dravid played very well and we hope they continue to do so in the future," said Mahinder Pal, a local. Sharath Dravid, Rahul Dravid's father was happy with his son's performance and the way he had captained the team. "We are very happy. He is captaining well. What is important is that the team performs well. If the team wins, he wins.... No particular milestones, he has to have a long wait and we can't set a milestone now," he told reporters in Bangalore. Fans were however, in general, unhappy with the pair missing out on the record. "About missing out the record, well, we are very disappointed. We were expecting them to break the 50-year old record. But Sehwag got out. We are disappointed," said Manishanker, a local in Delhi

   Meanwhile, Pranab Roy, son of former cricketer Pankaj Roy who holds the Indian world record for the highest opening partnership along with Vinoo Mankad, said that records were meant to be broken and the pair played really well. "It is not only the record, it was the way they played against Pakistan, chasing almost 700 runs after fielding for more than one day. It is a great task. I am sure that the forthcoming tests will be very interesting," said Roy to reporters in Kolkata. Rain and bad light over the last three days of the match allowed only 220.5 overs to be bowled out of a scheduled minimum of 450. The flat, lifeless pitch also offered little help to the bowlers and six batsmen managed to register centuries with Younis Khan (199), Mohammad Yousuf (173), Shahid Afridi (103) and Kamran Akmal (102 not out) posting three figure totals along with Sehwag and Dravid who scored 410 for India. The second Test of the three match series starts in Faisalabad on Saturday.

Sania enters second round of Australian Open

    Hyderabad: Friends and relatives of tennis sensation Sania Mirza were jubilant after she beat Victoria Azarenka of Belarus to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. Sania sailed into the second round with a comfortable 7-6(8-2), 6-2 win over the 16-year old World junior Champion who was making her maiden appearance at the tournament. Narendra Nath, Sania's former coach said the win would boost her confidence and assure good performance ahead. "I think it's good for her confidence that she won it. Her opponent has been doing well lately and to beat her 7-6, 6-2 gives Sania a lot of confidence to move ahead," he said. Hamida Safi, Sania's aunt said that the teenager was shaping up well this year. "Last year we were more excited because she was playing with the William sisters' but this year we really like the way she is playing," said Hamida. The 19-year-old's win in the Australian Open has lifted her back to 32 in the world rankings. Sania has herself become a youth icon in cricket-mad India, both through her on-court exploits and her colourful earrings and T- shirts with catchy messages. She has not looked back since becoming the first Indian woman to reach the third round of a grand slam at the Australian Open in January last year. An attacking player with a fierce forehand, she has struggled for consistency and both her serve and mobility have been affected by a stomach muscle injury and a troublesome ankle.

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