Brutal batting by triple centurion Virender Sehwag took India to 468 for one in reply to South Africa's 540 at stumps on the third day of the first test in Chennai on Friday.
Sehwag reached the close on 309 not out, an epic innings that came off 292 balls and featured 41 fours and five sixes. In the process, the rough diamond of Indian cricket scored the third fastest double century and the fastest triple century - off 278 balls - in history.
At the other end of the pitch, Rahul Dravid ground out his 65 not out from 181 balls with a measly eight fours.
Sehwag and Dravid shared a stand of 255 for the unbroken second wicket, and it was difficult to establish which of them the South Africans disliked bowling to more - the man who refused to play a shot, or the one who refused to stop playing shots.
But it is Sehwag who will hog the headlines with an innings that should have come with an age restriction and a warning: do not try this at home.
The home side resumed on 82 without loss, and the runs were soon flowing. None of the South African bowlers made an impression against Sehwag and his opening partner, Wasim Jaffer.
Jaffer was far less attacking than Sehwag, but both batsmen who were comfortable and confident in their differing roles.
South Africa toiled until after lunch before Paul Harris made the breakthrough when Jaffer played a ragged drive to a delivery that was pitched outside his off-stump and edged a catch to Jacques Kallis at slip.
That removed Jaffer for 73 and ended the stand at 213, but the setback failed to curb Sehwag's pitbull instincts.
He drilled the next ball - which was bowled by Dale Steyn - for four, and he went to his fourth double century before tea with a six and a three off Makhaya Ntini.
The triple century followed in the third session, this time with a single to backward square leg off Ntini.
India scored 133 runs in the second session and 108 of them belonged to Sehwag, who was also able to lay claim to 91 of the 159 runs that piled up after tea.
Few players dominate as completely as Sehwag did on Friday.
South Africa: Neil McKenzie, Graeme Smith (captain), Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, Ashwell Prince, AB de Villiers, Mark Boucher, Morne Morkel, Paul Harris, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini.
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