November 4, 2001	Sunday	Shaba’an 17, 1422

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BLOEMFONTEIN (South Africa), Nov 3: India’s Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest player to score 7,000 Test runs as he hit 155 on the opening day of the first Test against South Africa Saturday.

Debutant Virender Sehwag also scored a century as India recovered from a poor start to reach 372 for seven at the close of play.

He also moved one behind Australian captain Steve Waugh in fourth place on the all-time list with his 26th Test century behind compatriot and leader Sunil Gavaskar, who has scored 34 Test centuries.

Tendulkar was in vintage form, counter-attacking superbly after India slumped to 68 for four. He shared a partnership of 213 with Sehwag, known by many Indian fans as ‘the poor man’s Tendulkar’.

No South African bowler escaped Tendulkar’s assault, his hundred coming off just 114 balls.

By the time he was caught in the deep by Neil McKenzie off the bowling of Makhaya Ntini, he had scored 155 in a little under four hours, facing 184 balls and hitting 23 fours and a six.

The South African attack visibly wilted between lunch and tea as India reached the end of the session without losing a wicket, scoring 132 runs in the process.

Sehwag grew in confidence as it became clear that the early menace in the pitch had largely disappeared and scored freely off the front foot, driving powerfully through the off side.

His fifty included 10 fours and the 23 year-old reached his hundred with a beautiful square drive off Lance Klusener after a little over four hours at the crease.

He was bowled by Pollock shortly afterwards for 105 after facing 173 balls and striking 19 boundaries.

Sehwag was the first Indian to score a century on his debut since his captain Saurav Ganguly’s hundred against England at Lord’s in 1996.

Shaun Pollock struck first, makeshift opener Rahul Dravid edging a sharp, rising delivery to Kallis at second slip to depart for two.

New batsman V.V.S. Laxman immediately began to play his shots, cutting and then driving Pollock to the cover boundary before hooking him over square leg for six.

A patient start from opener Shiv Sunder Das was undone on nine when he edged a fierce delivery from Hayward onto his stumps.

Laxman was unfortunate to go for 32 when he gloved a pull at an innocuous delivery from Hayward and turned to see Boucher take a fine catch down the leg side.

Ganguly made 14 before he spliced a vicious delivery from Kallis towards gully where Gary Kirsten dived to take a brilliant catch, which was approved only after referral to television umpire Ian Howell.