"Sehwag! Sehwag!"

Chepauk Stadium was half-empty for Shane Warne's world record but packed to the rafters for the final session as a freewheeling century from Virender Sehwag gave resurgent India a slight advantage over Australia in the second Test.

Replying to Australia's 235, India was 6-291 at stumps.

Australia dropped five catches, went tantalisingly close to two half-chances and took a catch off a Michael Kasprowicz no-ball in a frustrating fielding display that included four overthrows from a wild return by Justin Langer that flew over wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist's head.

Warne had his moment in the sun when Irfan Pathan was caught by Matthew Hayden at first slip, taking the Australian leg spinner's tally to a record 533 Test wickets. He had to wait until the closing stages of another pulsating day's play before he struck again, when Sehwag's 356-minute gem came to a screaming halt from a diving catch in the outfield by Michael Clarke.

Only then did the chanting of his name fade.

Not die, just fade.

The momentum was all India's until Jason Gillespie, unveiling a Dennis Lillee-style white headband after tea, sent Sourav Ganguly (nine) and VVS Laxman (four) packing but the hosts kept their wickets in tact over the final 90 minutes through a 58-run stand between Mohammad Kaif (34 not out) and Parthiv Patel (27 not out).

Sehwag hit every shot in the book - ambitious slogs, deft late cuts, cracking pulls and drives - while finding the boundary rope 21 times as he rode his luck.

A miscued hook off Glenn McGrath fell inches away from a diving Simon Katich at cover. Another lofted drive flicked Kasprowicz's fingers at mid-off. One edge flew between wicketkeeper Gilchrist and first slip Matthew Hayden. Numerous risky strokes fell safely.

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