16 October 2004	Saturday	01 Ramazan 1425

CHENNAI, Oct 15: Shane Warne claimed the world Test wicket-taking record on Friday but was still upstaged as Virender Sehwag smashed 155 to give India the edge over a bungling Australia in the second Test.

Sehwag waged a lone battle on the second day to hit his seventh Test hundred and his second against the world champions as India closed on 291 for six, 56 runs ahead. No other batsman in the top five got to 30.

Australia's bowlers fought back after tea but were let down by sloppy catching, with six chances floored. At the close Mohammad Kaif (34 not out) and Parthiv Patel (27 not out) were still together despite both offering chances, having put on 58.

Warne ended the day with three for 93, and 534 Test wickets in all, two ahead of his Sri Lankan rival Muttiah Muralitharan. Australia lead the four-match series 1-0. Sehwag held firm for almost six hours for his seventh Test hundred, getting 84 of his runs in fours and facing 221 balls.

But Warne finally removed him to reduce India to 233 for six after a post-tea collapse triggered by fast bowler Jason Gillespie's removal of Saurav Ganguly (9) and Vangipurappu Laxman (4).

India, 197 for three at tea, lost wickets regularly in the final session just as the tourists had done on the first day on a slow Chepauk pitch of variable bounce. In the morning Warne removed night watchman Irfan Pathan, caught by Matthew Hayden at slip, to claim his 533rd Test scalp and surpass off-spinner Muralitharan's world mark.

The 35-year-old, playing in his 114th match, raised his arm and jogged over for a subdued celebration with his team -mates. He then saluted the 35,000-strong crowd with the ball to a standing ovation. But it was Sehwag who dictated the day. He added a valuable 55 runs for the second wicket with Pathan before putting on 95 for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid, who contributed just 26 before playing on.

Sehwag, on 61 out of India's lunch score of 101 for two, edged Warne between wicket keeper and slip for a couple, but then powerfully swept the bowler for three fours to move into the 90s.

The free-stroking batsman had some close shaves before reaching triple figures, a drive off fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz completing his 147-ball century. He was then dropped on 123 at mid-wicket by Justin Langer as he flicked at the occasional left-arm spin of Darren Lehmann.

Australia, indeed, had only themselves to blame for their problems. Kaif was dropped on zero and two, edging Warne to Adam Gilchrist, while Patel, on 20, was dropped by Warne in the slips against Gillespie.

Ganguly, meanwhile, was lucky to survive twice against Kasprowicz, nicking a no ball to slip and dropped by Gilchrist on four. The remaining Tests will be played in Nagpur and Mumbai.

Scoreboard

Australia (1st innings): 235 (J.Langer 71, M.Hayden; A.Kumble 7-48)

India (1st innings): (over night 28-1)

Y.Singh c Gilchrist b Warne 8

V.Sehwag c Clarke b Warne 155

I.Pathan c Hayden b Warne 14

R.Dravid b Kasprowicz 26

S.Ganguly c Gilchrist b Gillespie 9

VVS.Laxman b Gillespie 4

M.Kaif not out 34

P.Patel not out 27

Extras: (b-6 lb-1 w-2 nb-5) 14

Total: (six wkts, 100 overs) 291

To bat: H.Singh, A.Kumble, Z.Khan

Fall of wkts: 1-28 2-83 3-178 4-203 5-213 6-233

Bowling (to date): McGrath 20-3-63-0 (nb-2 w-2), Gillespie 27-7-55-2, Warne 29-3-95-3, Kasprowicz 19-4-45-1 (nb-3), Lehmann 5-0-26-0. -Reuters