M A I N   N E W S

Sachin puts Gavaskar to shade
Slams 35th Test century
M.S. Unnikrishnan

New Delhi, December 10
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar reached yet another cricketing milestone when he scored a world-record 35th Test century on the opening day of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here today.

Sachin hit an unbeaten 100 when the day’s play was terminated with two balls of Chaminda Vaas’ last over remaining to be bowled. India were 245 for three at stumps when play was halted after 75.4 overs because of bad light. Sourav Ganguly was 39 not out.

Sachin, who holds the one-day international world record of 38 centuries, was tentative in the beginning, but after he completed his half century, which was incidentally his 42nd Test half ton, the maestro braced himself up to go past the 34 Test hundred threshold he was hitherto sharing with Sunil Gavaskar. When Sachin flicked Vaas to square leg to move from 99, where he had got stuck for a while, to 100, the packed stadium erupted in a deafening crescendo. Sachin got his 35th ton in his 125th Test appearance — the same number of Tests Gavaskar had played.

It was a long wait for Sachin to reach this coveted mark, as after scoring a double century against Bangladesh at Dhaka last December, he could not do much in the subsequent four Tests. He was dismissed for 22 in the rain-marred first Test in Chennai, but was determined to get at the target at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground, which has now earned the reputation of being a cricket venue of many a record. Anil Kumble will best remember the Kotla ground for his 10 wicket-haul against Pakistan in 1999, and Sachin will also add the Ferozeshah Kotla ground as one of the most cherished venues of his cricket career.

Sachin has travelled a long way from the day he scored his first Test hundred — 199 against England at Old Trafford — as a callow 17-year-old in the 1989-90 series.

It was the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream, as he had to sit out for over four months due to an elbow injury.

“My first Test hundred saved the match, and it was a memorable one. This hundred is an emotional one, though all my hundreds are important to me,” Sachin said.

“But this hundred is an extremely satisfying one,” he added.

But he rated the 114 he scored against Australia at Perth in the 1991-92 series, which India lost 4-0, as his best hundred.

When Sachin walked back to the pavilion after completing the historic feat, the entire Indian team came down from the balcony of their dressing room to give him a thundering applause and a huge hug. But he could not speak to his idol Sunil Gavaskar, because of the bar imposed on players using mobile phones in dressing rooms. “I have not received any call from Gavaskar,” Sachin said.

Sachin dedicated his world record to his family and coach Ramakant Achrekar. “They stood by me through thick and thin, and goaded me to go for greater laurels in the game.”

Though the master batsman was “mentally prepared” to go for the record today, coach Greg Chappell told him not to bother about the “numbers”, which eased off the pressure on him somewhat.

But even Sachin would not have thought that he would achieve this landmark feat today after the day got off on a shaky start for the hosts. With opener Virender Sehwag out of the playing eleven, captain Rahul Dravid, opting to bat after winning the toss, donned the role of an opener for the fifth time in his career. And the Indians got the shock of their lives, when Gautam Gambhir was given out lbw to left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas.

Dravid was joined by VVS Laxman, and the duo launched into a calculated assault after assessing the situation for a couple of overs. When the partnership was getting on top of the Lankan bowling, Dravid was enticed by Murali to offer a catch to Farveez Maharoof at forward short leg for 24.

The exit of Dravid paved the way for Sachin’s entry, though the ace batsman was very circumspect to begin with.

Murali seemed to get the upperhand on him, but he kept his end intact while Laxman went for his flowing drives and flicks to subdue the Lankan bowling. When Laxman was going great guns, with the third-wicket partnership with Sachin resulting in 77 runs off 25.6 overs, Laxman edged Murali to keeper Kumar Sangakkara. Laxman’s well-struck 69 with 12 boundaries injected life into the Indian innings, before Sachin and Sourav consolidated the position.

Scoreboard

India (1st innings)

Gambhir lbw Vaas 2

Dravid c Mubarak b Muralitharan 24

Laxman c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 69

Tendulkar not out 100

Ganguly not out 39

Extras (4-b, 7-lb) 11

Total (3 wkts, 75.4 overs) 245

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-56, 3-133.

Bowling: Vaas 20.4-4-77-1, Fernando 18-4-43-0, Muralitharan 28-6-77-2, Bandara 8-0-33-0, Dilshan 1-0-4-0.