Fri, 04 Dec 2009 9:30p.m.
Indian batsman Virender Sehwag fell just short of becoming the first ever batsman to score three test triple centuries, but the hosts still reached an extraordinary 536-3 by lunch on day three of the third and final test against Sri Lanka.
Sehwag was dismissed for 293, adding nine runs to his overnight score before offering a return catch to offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who fumbled the attempt before managing to hold the ball.
Sehwag's overnight partner Rahul Dravid (74) soon followed him to the pavilion before Sachin Tendulkar (48 not out) and VVS. Laxman (22 not out) added 49 runs for the fourth wicket up to lunch.
Sehwag's two triple centuries were against Pakistan at Multan in 2004 and South Africa at Chennai in 2008.
Brian Lara of the West Indies and Australian Donald Bradman are the only other cricketers in test history to have passed 300 runs on two different occasions.
AP