Dravid guides India to 535/4 at lunch on second day

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KANPUR - Rahul Dravid compiled his 28th century and became Test cricket’s fourth highest scorer, surpassing Allan Border, while guiding India to 535 for four at lunch on the second day of the second cricket Test against Sri Lanka at Green Park here Wednesday.

Dravid’s innings was cut short at 144 runs after adding 59 runs to his overnight score. He was run out after backing up a bit too far as left arm spinner Rangana Herath, while attempting to stop a V.V.S. Laxman (24 not out) shot off his own bowling, palmed the ball back to the stumps.

But by then Dravid had made sure that India reached a position of strength and cashed in on the advantage of the big first day total of 417 for two that included explosive centuries from Virender Sehwag (131) and Gautam Gambhir (167).

Dravid, who pulled India out of trouble with a counter-attacking 177 in the drawn Ahmedabad Test, reached his second consecutive ton when he straight drove left arm pacer Chanaka Welegedara for a four. He played 172 balls for his 28th century and hit 10 fours.

He crossed a milestone when he took a single of Herath, surpassing Border’s aggregate of 11,174 runs to become Test cricket’s fourth highest scorer after Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting.

Dravid now has 11,182 runs in 136 Tests at an average of 53.50.

India scored at a brisk pace and added 118 runs in 20 overs in the session. Dravid was the dominant partner in the 94-run stand with Tendulkar.

Tendulkar took 91 balls for his 40 and was out caught while giving a charge to Ajantha Mendis, two balls after hitting the mystery spinner for a straight six coming down the track.

Dravid scored more freely after reaching his century, stroking some elegant boundaries off the spinners. His 226-ball effort had 15 fours and one six.