On This Day: Virender Sehwag tore into the West Indian bowling with a magnificent 219

December 8, 2009: It took nearly four decades for a batsman to score the first double-century in the history of ODI cricket but less than two years for the second one. Virender Sehwag was touted to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the highest individual ODI score at that time, and he did so in some style. Unlike Tendulkar, Sehwag wasn’t running out of time as he raced towards 200 in the 44th over and eventually ended his long vigil in the in the 47th over with a breathtaking 219 off 149 balls. Sehwag’s performance led India to 418 for 5, their highest ODI total, and sealed victory in the five-match series against West Indies. It was an innings characteristic of his approach to batting as he stamped his class and authority all over it. When in flow he is simply unstoppable and after hitting his second ball for 4 he simply didn’t hold back. He ensured India’s run-rate stayed above seven after the 15th over which meant the team could build on this strong foundation. Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir put on a real show for a packed house at Indore with an opening partnership of 176 that began solidly, picked up speed, and continued hammering the bowlers before it was eventually ended, inevitably, by a run-out. Both batsmen were lucky to survive some close calls early in the innings with a missed run out chance and a return catch dropped, however once settled they simply dictated terms to a hapless West Indian bowling lineup who were clueless on a batting paradise. Sehwag got to his hundred with a fierce cut, hit in the air at point for a boundary. The next ball, he ran Gambhir out for a well-made half-century, to a direct hit from Samuels. Visibly upset since it was his mistake, he continued to punish West Indies. When he was hitting fours, he preferred to go square of the wicket, flicking and glancing the numerous deliveries he received on his pads, and opened the face to guide the ball at the backward point region. He usually went straighter whenever he targeted a six; the arc between midwicket and long-on being his favoured hitting zones. He hit 25 fours and seven sixes in all. On 170, in the 38th over, he hit Rampaul towards cover, where Sammy dropped an easy catch, leaving the bowler shocked. The rest of the innings was a blur of boundaries and landmarks. Suresh Raina got to his half-century off 42 balls. When Sehwag was finally dismissed caught at long-off, most of the West Indian fielders came from far and wide to shake his hand. It was a knock to remember for a lifetime. On This Day: Virender Sehwag tore into the West Indian bowling with a magnificent 219: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qk5fq

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On This Day: Virender Sehwag tore into the West Indian bowling with a magnificent 219

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