Sehwag helps India stand firm

Having added 72 to his overnight score to finish the morning session on 103, Sehwag was more watchful after lunch. India did lose both Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman but still lead by 173 runs with six wickets and one session remaining as the game looks almost certain to end in a draw.

Resuming on 45 for one, the highlight of a pedestrian start to the day`s action was the retirement of Rahul Dravid on 11 after he was hit on the finger by a short delivery from Brett Lee.

That brought Sachin Tendulkar to the crease and the Australians thought they had dismissed him in somewhat bizarre fashion when a powerful cover drive appeared to hit Phil Jacques full on the boot before ballooning to Andrew Symonds, who took a catch at mid-off.

However, after the incident was referred to the third umpire, replays showed the ball hit the ground in front of Jacques before deflecting into the air. Sehwag then decided to accelerate and cut Stuart Clarke to the boundary to bring up his fifty and followed up with a leg glance for four.

He then targeted Brad Hogg`s bowling, hitting the spinner for a huge six over wide long-off before finding the boundary with a cover drive that split the field. Sehwag then completed a 13th Test century from just 123 balls with a single off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

However, Tendulkar departed two balls later for 13 when he attempted a quick single after playing a short of a length delivery from Johnson down into the pitch. He was sent back by Sehwag and was well short of his ground when the bowler produced a direct hit on the stumps.

Ganguly fell after lunch on 18 when, having just survived a concerted lbw appeal, attempted to drive a full delivery from Johnson but instead scooped it to Michael Hussey fielding near the bat, who made a smart catch diving to his right.

The third umpire was brought into play once again but when it was determined Ganguly had not hit the ball into the ground first, he was on his way back to the pavilion.

Laxman then perished on 12 when a short-pitched delivery from Lee flicked his gloves and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist snapped up a catch down the leg side. That brought Mahendra Singh Dhoni to the crease and he and Sehwag ensured there were no further setbacks before tea was taken.