An excellent day's work for Dravid and Sehwag

Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid were closing in on the world record opening partnership in the first Test against Pakistan before bad light stopped play.

The current Test record stands at 413, set by India's Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy against New Zealand in 1955-56.

Sehwag (247) and Dravid (128) had advanced to 403-0 at the close on day four of the first Test, needing to reach 480 to avoid the follow-on.

Sehwag hit the second fastest double century in Test history in 182 balls.

Sehwag relishes batting paradise

That was 29 balls more than New Zealand's Nathan Astle took when he smashed a double ton off 153 deliveries against England in 2001-02.

Sehwag completed his double century after he hit medium fast bowler Rana Naved for four successive boundaries in one over to reach 199.

FIRST WICKET PARTNERSHIPS 413 - Mankad and Roy - India v NZ, 1955-56 403* - Sehwag and Dravid - India v Pak, 2006 387 - Turner and Jarvis - NZ v WI, 1971-72 382 - Lawry and Simpson - Aus v WI, 1964-65 368 - Smith and Gibbs - SA v Pak, 2002-03 * Not out

He sliced the next short delivery to third man but Shoaib Malik could not hold on to a difficult catch.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq also missed a low catch when Sehwag was on 125 and the ball passed between his legs at slip on a day when there were rare opportunities to gain a breakthrough.

The duo's 403 was India's highest-ever partnership against Pakistan, beating the third-wicket 336 set by Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag in Multan in 2004.

Sehwag's unbeaten 247 came off just 240 balls, including 46 fours and a six off Danish Kaneria.

It was Dravid's 21st Test century and first as India captain as the tourists smacked the Pakistan bowlers around on a benign pitch as the first Test looked to be heading for a draw with only half the possible overs bowled because of bad light.

Dravid was the more subdued of the openers, taking 227 balls for his 128 not out.

Replying to Pakistan's 679-7, India resumed on 145-0 and only two overs were possible in the morning session but it was enough for Sehwag to advance to his century.

In the 47 overs that were bowled, 258 runs were added to India's total at a rate of 5.48 an over.

None of the Pakistan bowlers will be particularly wanting to look at their figures although Shoaib Akhar conceded a respectable 45 runs from 15 overs.