Sachin Tendulkar fell agonisingly short of an unprecedented 100th hundred while Ravichandran Ashwin hit a maiden century as the third Test between India and the West Indies headed for a draw on Friday.
Tendulkar scored a superb 94 and Ashwin a robust 103 in only his third Test before India were bowled out for 482 in their first innings in reply to the West Indies’ 590 on the penultimate day. The tourists were 81-2 in their second innings at stumps for an overall lead of 189 with eight wickets in hand, with teenager Kraigg Brathwaite (34 not out) and Darren Bravo (27 not out) at the crease. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who opened the attack, removed Adrian Barath (three) and Kirk Edwards (17).
India, needing 391 to avoid the follow-on, were struggling at 331-6 before Virat Kohli (52) and Ashwin added 97 valuable runs for the seventh wicket at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Ashwin also became the third Indian after Vinoo Mankad and Polly Umrigar to grab five wickets in an innings and score a century in the same Test. He hit two sixes and 15 fours in his 118-ball knock. It was the first time in the history of Test cricket that 11 half-centuries or more were scored in the first innings of a match, with the West Indies making six and India five.
Tendulkar looked set to complete a century of centuries as he had been timing the ball remarkably well before he attempted to drive paceman Ravi Rampaul on the up and was caught by Darren Sammy at second slip. While the West Indies celebrated the huge success, the “Little Master” walked back dejectedly and nearly 15,000 cheering spectators suddenly fell silent at the 32,000-capacity stadium.
With the spectators applauding each run from Tendulkar and chanting “Sa-chin, Sachin”, the batting star started the day with an attacking stroke when he flicked Rampaul past square-leg for a four in the opening over. Tendulkar, 67 overnight, continued to play attractive shots as he straight-drove Rampaul for a four and then uppercut paceman Fidel Edwards over the slips for a six to move into the nineties before the disaster struck. He smashed two sixes and eight fours in his 153-ball knock.
he wont do it in tests
Pakistani players shall follow him,,only game,,,,no corruption,,spot fixing,,,get money in a legal way with respect,,spot fixing is like theft from Nation.. Illegal money earners are caught anyway anytime even by nonmuslims.. Good muslims avoid this,, easy come easy go,,,,with shame,,defame….
He must get the energy drink…
hahahaa…..sachin ..u better retire nw…..u r nt gonnna make it surely…:P
retire hone ki jarurat to filhal pkistan team ko h, jo ki spot fixing m h, schin ko jo karna h vo kar lega apko batane ki jarurat nai h …………..
best of luck for next time sir g
LOL! They even had the pitch tailor-made (most likely ;)) for this over-rated guy (over-rated as this guy has pretty much played for himself or for personal records, rather than the team) and still no hundred!! 😀 On a much more serious note, Viv Richards for me would always be far greater! 🙂
Poor guy…
pakistan k 3 khiladi spot fixing m pkda gaye …………..you all……. POOR GUIES
:)…..:)
@Vasi, very true…Ab to Tape ball say century karwa deni chahye uss ki
LOL @ Mudassar!
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