PTI

Chennai, Mar 29: Virender Sehwag could not break Brian Lara's world record but Rahul Dravid joined the 10,000 test run club as India overhauled South Africa's first innings total and took a seven-run lead at lunch on day four of the first cricket test here on Saturday.

India were 547 for four at the break, with Dravid on 99 (269B, 13X4) and V V S Laxman on six at the crease. In a spirited fightback, the South African bowlers removed three Indian batsmen - Sehwag (319), Sachin Tendulkar (0) and Sourav Ganguly (24) - in the morning session besides bringing down the run rate.

Sehwag added 10 runs to his overnight score to set a new record of highest test score by an Indian before Makhaya Ntini had him caught at the slips by Neil Mckenzie. Sehwag's 319 came off just 304 balls and included 42 boundaries and five sixes.

Sehwag thus failed in his effort to eclipse Lara's world record score of 400 not out. Ntini dealt another blow in his next over, scalping Sachin Tendulkar for a duck after the batsman drove away from his body to be caught by Jacques Kallis at second slip.

Ganguly hit a few delectable fours through the cover before he bottom edged a Paul Harris delivery and wicket keeper Mark Boucher took a smart catch to reduce India to 481 for three.

Dravid was on 79 when he flicked Morne Morkel to complete a single that made him the sixth batsman, and the third Indian, to join the elite 10,000 test run club.

Brian Lara (11953), Tendulkar (11782), Allan Border (11174), Steve Waugh (10927) and Sunil Gavaskar (10122) are the other members of the elite league.