Virender Sehwag slammed his first century in two years before Graeme Swann brought England back into the game with a three-wicket haul as India reached 250 for three at tea on the opening day of the first Test against England here today.
Sehwag, playing in his 99th Test, blasted his way to a run-a-ball 117, his 23rd ton, containing 16 fours and a six in his usual swashbuckling fashion. It was his first ton after November 2010 in the first Test against New Zealand at the same venue.
The 34-year-old opener from Delhi, who dominated the rival bowling attack after India opted to bat on a bone-dry pitch at Sardar Patel Stadium, was bowled by off-spinner Swann while trying a slog-sweep from outside the off after completing his second ton against England.
He added 134 runs with fellow-opener Gautam Gambhir (45 in 111 balls) and 90 runs for the second wicket in 122 balls with number three Cheteshwar Pujara.
Swann, who had dismissed Gambhir early in the session, led the visitors' fight back by packing off Sachin Tendulkar, caught at deep mid-wicket, for 13 just before the break, to finish with excellent figures of three for 60. His second spell read a superb 4-0-11-2 in which he sent back Sehwag and Tendulkar.
At tea break, Pujara was unbeaten on 68 after having faced 97 balls and hit 10 boundaries since coming to the crease at the fall of Gambhir's wicket in the second over of the post-lunch session.
Virat Kohli (0 off 5 balls) was the not out batsman at the other end. Thanks in large measure to Sehwag, who came into the game after scoring a century in the Ranji Trophy game against Uttar Pradesh at Ghaziabad, the hosts scored 120 runs in the first session without loss and added 130 runs in the second for the loss three wickets on a wicket offering low bounce and slow turn.