India take charge

Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag each scored centuries and put on an opening stand of 233 today to lead hosts India to a record 417 for two wickets on the opening day of the second test against Sri Lanka.



Gambhir hit 167 and Sehwag 131 after India won the toss and elected to bat first at Green Park as the Indians scored their most ever runs in a single day of test cricket, surpassing the 385 they scored on the first day of last week\'s drawn first test in Ahmadabad.



Sehwag struck two sixes and 18 boundaries in 122 deliveries to post his 16th century before falling to offspinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who induced him into lofting the ball to Tillakaratne Dilshan at extra cover.



Gambhir smashed 15 fours off 215 balls and continued to punish the Sri Lankan attack after completing his eighth century and the fourth in four tests.



He added 137 for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid, who was unbeaten on 85 at stumps after hitting eight boundaries in 153 balls. Sachin Tendulkar was on 20 at the other end.