India's Virender Sehwag laughs as the television screen behind flashes 300 runs to his credit against South Africa during the third day of the first Test match of the Future Cup series in Chennai, India, yesterday.

CHENNAI, India (AP):

Virender Sehwag has set his sight on surpassing former West Indies captain Brian Lara's Test-record high score of 400.

The India opener smashed an unbeaten 309 yesterday to lead India to 468 for one wicket at stumps on the third day in reply to South Africa's first-innings 540 in the opening Test of the three-match series.

Sehwag equalled his own highest Test score for an Indian cricketer on his way to becoming only the third batsman to score two triple centuries in Tests - after Donald Bradman of Australia and Lara.

Lara's 400 not out against England at St John's, Antigua, in 2004 is the highest Test score by any batsman and Sehwag believes he can beat it if he manages to bat through the first session today.

"If I keep going on till lunch tomorrow, I may break Lara's record," Sehwag said. "But right now, I'm just looking for some rest and a good night's sleep."

The 29-year-old Sehwag hit 42 fours and five sixes from 292 balls, but his innings yesterday showed the 55-Test veteran's maturity as he didn't lash out at all deliveries and instead played them on merit.

The discipline he displayed was uncharacteristic of the reputation of a dashing stroke-player that Sehwag has acquired since making his international debut in 2001.

Sehwag scored 309 in Multan in 2004, 201 in Bangalore in 2005 and 254 in Lahore in 2006. All three Test innings were against Pakistan.

"This (for) sure was my best Test innings," Sehwag said. "I didn't show the same concentration and patience while scoring my previous triple century or two double hundreds.

"The conditions were hot and humid, but my captain Anil Kumble told me that I must bat through the day."