Second Test, Bangalore, day three (close):
Australia 478 v India 435-5
Match scorecard  Tendulkar was in indomitable form during his mammoth innings
Sachin Tendulkar scored his 49th Test century as India piled on the runs to fight back on day three of the second Test against Australia in Bangalore. Resuming on 128-2 in reply to the tourists' first-innings 478, Tendulkar led the way in sublime style, smashing two sixes and 20 fours in his 191no. He was ably supported by Murali Vijay (139) in a third-wicket stand of 308. Mitchell Johnson struck twice late in the day for Australia, but India will resume on 435-5, just 43 runs behind. It means Ricky Ponting's side have work to do if they are to level the two-match series having lost the opening Test, with India's batsmen looking comfortable on a flat pitch.  | TOP TEST CENTURY SCORERS S Tendulkar (Ind) 49 (279 inns) R Ponting (Aus) 39 (250) J Kallis (SA) 35 (237) S Gavaskar (Ind) 34 (214) B Lara (WI) 34 (232) S Waugh (Aus) 32 (260) M Hayden (Aus) 30 (184) D Bradman (Aus) 29 (80) R Dravid (Ind) 29 (248) M Jayawardene (SL) 28 (187) |
Should Tendulkar kick on again on day four and steer the hosts into a decent lead, Australia could even face a nervy battle with the bat to save the Test on the final day. "It's been a tough day," said Johnson, the pick of the Australian bowlers with 3-89 from 23 overs. "As a fast bowler, you want to see some bounce and carry; it was a bit too slow. [But] we stuck through the day and got a few wickets in the end to put some pressure on them." The day was marked by another stunning display of technique and temperament from 'The Little Master', though, fresh on the back of him becoming the first man to score 14,000 runs in Test cricket. Tendulkar, who has also just won the ICC's 2010 player of the year award, rarely looked troubled as he peppered the boundary rope off the front and back foot. He moved to 99 with a slog-sweep for six off spinner Nathan Hauritz and repeated the stroke to move into triple figures, before pulling Johnson for consecutive fours, chipping Shane Watson over cover and providing top-class defence in the face of Australia's most consistent bowler, Ben Hilfenhaus. At the other end, Vijay was less fluent than his partner. He was stuck on 99 for fully 20 minutes and had twice earned fortunate reprieves, first when he nearly ran himself out in bringing up his 50 and then when an lbw appeal from Hilfenhaus fell on deaf ears. | 606: DEBATE |
However, in an innings full of wristy clips and drives, Vijay provided pivotal support as he brought up his maiden Test century. "It was a dream come true for me to play with Sachin," said the opener. "I was just focused on each ball and not try to think too far ahead. In that regard Sachin helped me a lot." The opener's 310-ball knock eventually came to an end when he edged Johnson behind, Cheteshwar Pujara falling lbw four balls later to a delivery that kept low. That brought Suresh Raina to the crease and he displayed all of his usual attacking intent in a knock of 32 before driving Michael Clarke to mid-off late in the afternoon. But Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Dhoni saw out the remaining overs comfortably and put India in the driving seat both in this Test and the series.
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?