PTI
 
Lahore, Jan 16: Virender Sehwag smashed a breathtaking unbeaten 247 and put on an epic unfinished 403-run opening stand with Rahul Dravid to frustrate Pakistan and restore balance on a record-shattering day of the first cricket Test in Lahore on Monday.

The flamboyant Sehwag and Dravid (128) put themselves tantilisingly close to breaking the world record opening partnership as the visitors cruised to 403 for no loss in reply to Pakistan's 679 for seven declared, before play was called off early due to bad light on a truncated penultimate day of the match.

India's new opening pair was just 11 runs short of breaking Vinoo Mankad and Pankaj Roy's long standing world record for opening partnership established against New Zealand in Chennai in 1955-56.

It was a stunning display of batsmanship as Sehwag eclipsed one record after another during his 240-ball knock, which contained 40 boundaries and a six to completely annihilate the Pakistani attack on a placid track at the Gaddafi stadium.

Sehwag notched up his fourth double century while Dravid was more sedate on way to his 21st Test ton as India scored at a phenomenal 5.37 runs per over, the Delhi marauder doing the bulk of the scoring.

India were still 77 runs short of the follow-on target although it counts for little as the match is destined to end in a tame draw with just one day left.

Sehwag led the run-feast by cracking the second-fastest ever double hundred in Test history, off 182 balls with 38 fours, while Dravid followed suit later as the openers waltzed their way on a featherbed of a pitch against a hapless Pak attack.

Another 11 runs added to their stand would also mean India's highest partnership for any wicket and against any opposition. Sehwag once again made nonsense of murky conditions by smacking a whopping 46 fours and one six while Dravid's 128 came in 227 balls.

During the course of his 11th Test ton, coming in his 40th Test, Sehwag also scored the fastest century by an Indian opener, breaking the previous record of Sunil Gavaskar by one ball by reaching his first 100 in only 93 balls.

Runs came in cascades from Sehwag as he treated the home team's bowling with utter disdain to help India race to 358 for no loss at tea.

The run feast of the Indians saw them add 192 runs in 38 overs in the extended second session on yet another weather-truncated day.

The opening partnership between the duo was also the best-ever for any wicket for India against Pakistan, obliterating the 336-run stand between Sehwag, who then made 309, and Sachin Tendulkar (194 not out) at Multan in the first Test of the last series played here in 2004.