Virender Sehwag, unbeaten on 24 overnight, rollicked his way to the fourth half-century of his career. After sizzling the pacemen to the off-side fence on more than one occasion Sehwag began to take off-spinner Gareth Breese apart, unmindful of the fact that he was dropped at slip by Chris Gayle when he slashed at Merv Dillon.

Brought into the attack in the 19th over of the innings, Breese saw his third ball to Sehwag disappear over the ropes at long-on despite not coming off the meat of the bat. Off the very next ball a forward defensive stroke from Sehwag was edged to Wavell Hinds at short leg, who could not get to the catch on time. Sehwag dismissed that bit of cricket by hitting Breese into the second tier of stands at long on. With that massive blow Sehwag reached 50 in just 53 balls – 44 of those runs came in boundaries.

Pedro Collins, bowling a lively spell from around the wicket got the ball to move both in the air and off the wicket. One particularly well directed delivery came in with thew arm, straightened a touch, beat Sehwag’s bat and knocked the off stump out of the ground. Sehwag’s entertaining 61 came off just 63 balls and included a remarkable eight hits to the fence and three sixes.

Rahul Dravid, attempting to equal Everton Weekes’ record of five centuries in as many Test matches was cleaned up by the delivery of the day when he was on just 11. A peach of an inswinger, hitting the deck at just the right length zipped past the bat of Dravid at express pace and clattered the timber. An overjoyed Jermaine Lawson had the first wicket of his Test career.

Sachin Tendulkar, coming to bat at his favourite ground enjoyed a mixed session. While several deliveries from Carl Hooper reared from a length or bounced awkwardly, Tendulkar defended without conviction. However, when the bowlers erred in line or length, Tendulkar was quick to pounce on the chance and send the ball to the fence. On 21 when the players left the field for tea, Tendulkar still has much work to do.

As ever, the unsung hero, Sanjay Bangar was a pillar of strength at his end, notching up 33 off as many as 135 balls.

The umpires Asoka de Silva and David Shepherd have confirmed that damp conditions in the outfield have made it impossible to start play on the scheduled time of 9.30 AM. When the two umpires inspected the conditions at 11.00 AM local time they determined that play could get under way at 12.10 local time (0640 GMT).