5 best innings by Indian batsmen at the Eden Gardens

#4 Virender Sehwag sets up India’s victory against South Africa with a quick-fire 165 – February 2010

Sehwag scores an 87-ball hundred against SA

It was India’s ICC Test No.1 ranking on the line as India faced the mighty Proteas in the final match of the 2-match home series. South Africans had convincingly defeated the Indians in the first test match at Nagpur by an innings and 6 runs and were looking to win this match and claim the top spot for themselves.

And they started well, thanks to centuries from Alviro Peterson (100) and Hashim Amla (114), who got together after Zaheer Khan had gotten rid of captain Graeme Smith, again. But things went south very quickly for them as they were bowled out for 296 after being at 239/3 at one stage.

When Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag came out to bat, they would have sensed a chance as South Africa would have been low on morale after the first innings collapse. Sehwag, in his usual style took the attack to the Proteas bowlers comprising of the menacing Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

Supported by Sachin Tendulkar (106) at the other end, he took the game away from them, as the pair put on 249 runs together for the fourth wicket. In the process he scored 165, his 13th 150-plus score at the time, reaching his century in just 87 balls.

VVS Laxman (143) and captain MS Dhoni (132*) chipped in with centuries of their own as India gathered a first-innings lead of 347 runs.

Hashim Amla continued to be a pain for the Indians come the second innings with another unbeaten century as India managed to pull off a victory with hardly any time to spare on the final day, and held on to their No.1 ranking, thanks to some top class spin bowling by Harbhajan Singh.

India’s batting set up this victory as they scored at a whopping 4.2 runs – per over and they had the swashbuckling Virender Sehwag to thank for one of the many memorable innings he has produced for India.