KANPUR, India, 24 November 2004 — Opener Virender Sehwag hit a sparkling century as India kept on course for a big score in the first Test against South Africa at the Green Park Stadium here yesterday. The home side reached 401-4 at stumps on the fourth day after the big-hitting batsman slammed 164 and starred in an opening stand of 218 with Gautam Gambhir (96).
Captain Saurav Ganguly (57) and Rahul Dravid (52 not out) built on the fine start as India posted a fitting reply to South Africa’s first innings total of 510-9 declared.
Sehwag and Gambhir achieved only the sixth opening stand of 200 or more for India and the second-best ever for their country.
The Delhi pair, 85 apiece overnight, began briskly after a delayed start due to fog, but slowed down as Gambhir approached what could have been his first Test century in only his second match.
They still managed a healthy run-rate on the flat batting track, using up only 52.3 overs. The stand was broken when Gambhir was caught behind by debutant wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile to give Shaun Pollock his 350th Test scalp. Sehwag’s eighth Test century in 28 matches was studded with 20 boundaries and a six each off left-arm spinner Robin Peterson and paceman Andrew Hall to thrill the crowd of around 30,000.
He shifted gears after lunch, scoring his last 56 runs off just 35 balls to move from 108 to 164. The attacking batsman created space to unleash some fine shots on either side of the wicket during his 228-ball knock.
Sehwag was eventually trapped lbw by Hall, who also removed Sachin Tendulkar (three) with a ball that came in sharply and hit the wicket off his pads. Gambhir struck 11 fours and a six off 151 deliveries.
Ganguly hit seven boundaries during his half-century and added 96 runs for the fourth wicket with Dravid, who hit five fours in a cautious knock of 169 balls.
Ganguly was caught at long-leg by Peterson off medium-pacer Zander de Bruyn when he went for a big hook shot. India’s highest first-wicket stand was 413 by Pankaj Roy and Vinoo Mankad against New Zealand in Madras in 1955-56.
Pakistani Cricketers to Sign Central Contracts Ahead of Australian Tour
In Karachi, Pakistan is set to introduce a contract system for cricket players with maximum yearly salaries of around $42,000, Pakistan Cricket Board said yesterday.
“It is finally confirmed that top players will sign central contracts before leaving for Australia on Saturday,” PCB spokesman Abbas Zaidi told AFP. Board sources said some 20 top players, divided into three categories of A, B and C, would sign the contract. Pakistan was the only Test-playing country not to have central contracts with its players.
Zaidi denied media reports that express pacer Shoaib Akhtar, explosive all-rounder Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq had showed dissent over the grading system.
The PCB had drawn up the contracts after studying model contracts from Australia, India and South Africa, he said.
“The contracts have been formulated with the consent of the players and everyone will happily sign it,” said Zaidi, refusing to reveal further details.
Local media reports suggested only captain Inzamam-ul Haq and vice captain Yousuf Youhana had been put in the A category on the basis of playing more than 50 Tests.
While Akhtar, Afridi, Younis, Shoaib Malik, Razzaq and Yasir Hameed were placed in the B category as they have played less than 50 Tests and the rest in the C category.
Sources said Akhtar refused to be placed in the B category and raised the issue with PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan and finally convinced him to get him into the top category. Players in the A category are expected to get a monthly salary of around $3,500, those in the second category around $2,100 and $1,200 for those in the C category.
In addition to their salaries, the cricketers will also get their match fees and product endorsements.
Pakistan play three Tests in Australia starting with the first in Perth from Dec. 16 and later feature in a tri-series, also involving the West Indies.
