Leeds, August 23
Sachin Tendulkar outdid his hero Don Bradman in one way at least when he completed his 30th Test century on the second afternoon of the third Test against England today. He reached the mark with an on-drive for four off spinner Ashley Giles before punching the air with his bat.
Tendulkar, who earlier added 150 with Rahul Dravid before the latter was dismissed for 148, had been level with Australian Bradman in the all-time list of Test century makers at the start of the day. Only India’s Sunil Gavaskar, with 34 Test hundreds, has scored more.
The 29-year-old right-hander has always argued that Bradman was beyond compare. History, however, will surely be more generous one day in mentioning the two in the same breath.
England, 1-0 up in the four-match series, traipsed into tea looking dejected and weary, knowing they face an uphill battle to save the game against India’s spinners.
The touring side had resumed on 236 for two after the first 55 minutes of the day were lost to rain, quickly strengthening their grip on the game as they pressed to level the four-match series.
Reuters
