Sehwag makes rapid progress

Set a daunting target of 387 for victory, which would be the fourth-highest fourth innings successful run chase in history, India showed their ambition by racing to 80 without loss in just 13 overs by late afternoon on the fourth day at the Chepauk Stadium.

Their electric start was spearheaded by Sehwag, who raced to his half-century off only 32 balls to narrowly miss equalling the Indian record of 30 deliveries held by Kapil Dev.

Sehwag hit eight fours and two sixes in his brilliant innings after giving a hard chance to Alastair Cook in the gully on 26 when he slashed at main spearhead Steve Harmison.

India's lightning-quick start to their second innings lifted their hopes of hitting the highest-ever fourth innings total on this ground, which currently stands at India's 347 in the tied Test against Australia in 1986.

England had earlier declared on 311 for nine after both Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood progressed to centuries to set the platform for a similar boundary spree which the tourists were unable to achieve.

Middlesex left-hander Strauss had progressed from his overnight 73 to become only the 10th England batsman in history to score centuries in both innings of a Test and only the fourth ever in India.

He was followed to the landmark by Collingwood after lunch, who claimed his second century in three Tests, before their 214-run stand was finally ended off the next ball when Strauss drove Harbhajan Singh to extra cover.

It was England's third-highest stand ever in India, but instead of setting the platform for an acceleration in their scoring rate, the tourists instead collapsed and lost five wickets in 16 overs up to tea.