Tendulkar’s 50th hundred delays defeat

South Africa left needing two more wickets on final day.

CENTURION:

The legend of Sachin Tendulkar continued to grow as the Indian batting maestro hit his 50th Test century and shared a remarkable partnership with captain MS Dhoni on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa.

It was certainly not enough to save his team from defeat, with India finishing the day on 454 for eight in their second innings, still 30 runs short of making South Africa bat again.

But it was a heroic effort which salvaged the reputation of an Indian side which  seemed likely to suffer a humiliating trouncing.

Tendulkar (107 not out) and Dhoni (90) put on 172 for the seventh wicket and defied the South African bowlers for a minute short of three hours.

It took a special delivery from Dale Steyn to end the stand shortly before bad light ended play for the day.

Steyn produced a vicious bouncer which Dhoni could only fend to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher. In the next over Harbhajan Singh edged Paul Harris to slip, almost certainly ending any hopes of a miracle reprieve for India, although more storms are forecast for the final day.

South Africa seemed set for an early win when they took four wickets before lunch, with a new ball available 13 balls after the break. At that stage India were 277 for six, still trailing by 207 runs.

But Dhoni counter-attacked in thrilling fashion and South Africa’s new ball pair, Steyn and Morne Morkel, were on the receiving end of some cracking drives and cuts as Dhoni raced to a half-century off 40 balls with nine fours.

The focus, however, switched to Tendulkar, the highest-scoring batsman in international cricket history. Resuming at 80 he continued a calm innings. He pushed Steyn to midwicket for two, then drove the fast bowler to deep cover to reach his century after 258 minutes of watchful batting, during which he faced 197 balls and hit 12 fours and a six.

As he ran to complete the single he jumped in the air and lifted his bat to the heavens. No other batsman has scored more than 39 centuries in Tests.

Earlier Dravid became the third batsman, after Tendulkar and Australia’s Ricky Ponting, to make 12,000 Test runs, reaching the mark when he had scored 43. He did not add to his score before edging Morkel to wicket-keeper Mark Boucher.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2010.