Sehwag stars in India's reply

HYDERABAD, India, Nov 13, 2010 (AFP) - Virender Sehwag smashed an entertaining 96 and Gautam Gambhir hit 54 before New Zealand removed both the openers on day two of the second Test against India on Saturday. Sehwag unleashed 15 fours and a six in his 120-ball knock and added 160 runs for the opening wicket with Gambhir to steer India to 178-2 at close in reply to New Zealand's first-innings 350. At stumps, Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 11 while Rahul Dravid was on seven.

The day's last session belonged to Sehwag, who underlined his dominance over the Kiwi bowlers with a dazzling array of shots on either side of the wicket after a cautious start to his innings.

The Delhi batsman, who top-scored with 173 in the drawn first Test in Ahmedabad, hit a six and two fours in an over by part-timer Kane Williamson to enthrall a nearly 15,000 crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Sehwag was trapped leg before wicket by Daniel Vettori as he tried to slog-sweep the left-arm spinner, shortly before curtains were drawn on a thrilling day of cricket.

"It was sad to see Sehwag miss a century," said Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.