Sehwag a class player, at times frustrating for bowlers: Paine

Mohali:

Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine on Saturday praised hard-hitting India opener Virender Sehwag and said when in form, at times he is frustrating for the opponent bowlers.

"It's good to watch a class player like him, but it gets frustrating for the bowlers when he is out there," Paine said after the second day's play of the first Test between India and Australia here.

The Delhi batsman today smashed a brisk 59 off 54 balls and raced to his half-century in just 38 balls, before Sehwag held out a catch to Michael Clarke of the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

India were batting at 110 for two after 21 overs when the day's play ended. Australia were 428 all out in the first innings.

"It's very hard to bowl to him. It's good to see when he gets out," he said.

He said that India still has some class batsmen who are yet to bat and the Aussies tomorrow would be looking to make some early inroads to break the strong formidable Indian batting line-up.

He also said the Mohali wicket was now getting "slower and slower" and hoped that Mitchell Johnson would get some reverse swing tomorrow.

With Indian skipper M S Dhoni dropping couple of catches behind the stumps, Paine knew it's going to be hard as balls are not carrying with the pitch.

He also praised India pacer Zaheer Khan for his splendid bowling under difficult conditions and added that India also have some quality spinners.

"It is hard to score of him (Zaheer)," he said.

Paine cracked a sensible 92 on Saturday.