By David Ornstein

Sehwag's 278-ball 300 included 42 fours and five sixes

India's Virender Sehwag hit the fastest recorded triple-century in Test history on day three of the first Test against South Africa in Chennai.

Sehwag reached 100 before lunch and 200 after, before passing 300 from 278 balls in the evening session.

Matthew Hayden took 362 balls against Zimbabwe in 2003 and Walter Hammond an estimated 355 in New Zealand in 1933.

Sehwag, 29, was 309 not out as he and Rahul Dravid led India to 468-1 at stumps, replying to South Africa's 540.

Sehwag, who was dropped from the Test side for over a year from January 2007, becomes only the third batsman, alongside Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara, to pass 300 twice in Test cricket.

"It hurt when I was not in the team so I had to prove myself and I want to get back my seat so that's why I can concentrate and it's good for me and I think I'll continue in the next two Tests," he said.

Sehwag's effort puts the hosts in a strong position going into day four but, on a pitch conducive to high run-scoring and offering precious little to the bowlers, the most likely outcome remains a draw.

We tried everything we knew to get him out but he had the answer to everything on the day Mickey Arthur, South Africa coach

Yet even if India fail to force a result, the match will long be remembered for one of the finest innings seen in any form of cricket.

Coming a day after Hashim Amla crafted a stunning 159, Sehwag overshadowed the South African's feat by smashing the highest score by an Indian on home soil, exceeding VVS Laxman's 281 against Australia in Calcutta in 2001.

"You have to play your shots and maintain your run rate and I think we did a good job," he added.

"It was so good, such a true wicket and I just tried to play my shots because if I did that I knew that I could do it."

India resumed on 82-0 and Sehwag, 52 not out overnight, set the tone by swatting Makhaya Ntini for two boundaries off the day's opening over.

While less prolific, Wasim Jaffer's innings was proving equally important and he brought up his 10th Test 50, featuring five fours and one six, by pushing Paul Harris to mid-on.

And with South Africa's attack struggling to muster any hint of a breakthrough Sehwag notched his 100 by launching Kallis over mid-off five overs before lunch.

Dravid (left) and Sehwag have so far put on 255 for the second wicket

The pair passed India's previous highest opening stand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, beating Sunil Gavaskar's and Kris Srikkanth's 200 against Pakistan in 1987, in the 52nd over.

But in the 53rd Jaffer edged Harris to Jaques Kallis at first slip, falling for an impressive 73.

Sehwag was utterly unaffected by the loss of his partner and, typifying his innings, cut Steyn for a lovely four off the very next ball.

In the 68th over, he smashed Ntini for six over long-leg and then flicked him for three to reach his 200, slower only than Nathan Astle's 153-ball innings in Christchurch in 2002 and Sehwag's own 182-ball knock in Lahore in 2006.

Although Dravid's was finding it difficult to establish a rhythm, making just 10 off 56 balls by tea, Sehwag hit a staggering 106 off 67 balls in the middle session.

The right-hander kept India's superb run-rate high thereafter, surpassing the highest previous individual score at the ground, Gavaskar's 236 against West Indies in 1983-84.

Naturally, Sehwag tired somewhat the longer his innings went on but, more importantly, the South African bowlers were beginning toil in the evening humidity, allowing Dravid to take the ascendancy.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on Sehwag's heroics and predictions ahead of day four

He began to play with great fluidity and marked his 51st Test 50 by paddle-sweeping Harris for four.

But the undoubted star of the show was Sehwag and he moved onto 297 by smashing Harris straight for six before flicking Ntini to deep backwards square leg for his 300.

"This was probably the greatest innings I have ever seen," said South Africa coach Mickey Arthur.

"We tried everything we knew to get him out - we attacked him, we defended against him, we changed our lines and length but he had the answer to everything on the day.

"He is capable of hitting the ball into unorthodox areas on the field which makes it very difficult to set a good field for him."

A magnificent effort from a magnificent batsman, Sehwag will resume Saturday 91 runs short of the most runs ever scored by one batsman in an innings - Lara's 400 not out against England in Antigua in 2004.