Tendulkar nears 200, leads India’s fightback

Sachin Tendulkar smashes his 49th Test century and Murali Vijay his first as India match Australia’s batting prowess.

BANGALORE: Sachin Tendulkar smashed his 49th Test century and Murali Vijay his first as India matched Australia’s batting prowess in the second and final Test.

Australia managed just three wickets on the day as the hosts took their overnight score of 128 for two to 435 for five by stumps. The hosts, who lead the two-match series 1-0, are 43 runs away from Australia’s 478, with five wickets in hand.

Tendulkar finished the day unbeaten on a spectacular 191 and opener Vijay scored 139 during a record stand of 308 for the third wicket. Tendulkar hit 19 boundaries and two sixes in his seven-hour vigil at the crease while Vijay languished for an hour in the nineties before reaching his maiden hundred with a single.

“It was a dream to play with Sachin and he helped me a lot through the day. I was just focused on each ball,” said Vijay.

Australia went wicket-less in the first two sessions before they struck twice in one over from fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson soon after the tea interval. Suresh Raina (32) put on 61 for the fifth wicket with Tendulkar when he drove Michael Clarke to mid-on, where Ben Hilfenhaus took a low catch.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2010.