Sachin ton hands India edge
06 November, 2008

Sachin Tendulkar A century from Sachin Tendulkar guided India to 5-311 at stumps on the opening day of the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, giving the hosts the edge in the decisive match.

Tendulkar, who was dropped on 85 and 98 and also survived a run-out attempt just after passing his half-century, took an age to bring up his 40th Test century but eventually got there deep into the final session.

The champion batsman became the first player in Test match history to record 40 hundreds and also overtook Australian legend Allan Border as the man to score over 50 more times than anyone else (now 91).

His 109, allied with half-centuries from Virender Sehwag (66) and VVS Laxman (64), put India in a strong position after the first day.

Sourav Ganguly, playing his final Test match for India, was still batting on 27 at the close with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on four.

Australian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who was picked in place of paceman Stuart Clark, proved expensive on his debut but still claimed a three-wicket haul (3-138).

Sehwag and his new opening partner Murali Vijay (33) had exploded off the blocks after Dhoni had won yet another toss for India.

The two plundered 70 runs in the first hour as they pushed the visitors, 1-0 down in the series, on to the back foot.

Australia's new-ball bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson sprayed the ball around, although the tourists did have their chances.

Sehwag had an inside edge off Johnson miss off-stump by a whisker while another top-edge flew over the slip cordon.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting had handed Krejza the ball as early as the 12th over and Sehwag immediately responded by hitting him for a boundary and a six in that first over.

Vijay took to his first Test with gusto only a day after being rushed into the side to replace the banned Gautam Gambhir.

A flurry of boundaries marked the first hour as India went into the first drinks break firmly on the front foot.

Shane Watson, however, severed the burgeoning opening partnership getting steepling bounce and inducing an edge from Vijay which was grasped behind by Brad Haddin.

Sehwag brought up his half-century - off just 45 deliveries - by turning the spinner through square leg for a single and looked set to make a big score when he chopped a delivery from Krejza back on to his stumps.

Ponting persisted with Krejza although the off-spinner leaked 34 runs in his first four overs and was rewarded when the debutant disposed of Rahul Dravid (zero) for his first Test wicket.

Dravid had lunged forward to defend a delivery that kicked up, the edge flying to Simon Katich at short leg.

Tendulkar, who had walked out to the crease with India in a spot of bother at 3-116, steadied the ship in the company of Laxman.

The two, although conservative in approach in contrast to the openers, were no less effective as they added 146 runs for the fourth wicket.

Laxman, playing his 100th Test, was all timing and placement and he reached his half-century off 126 deliveries, hitting four boundaries along the way.

Then, much against the run of play, Krejza sent Laxman back to the pavilion. The right-handed batsman moved to make room to cut Krejza on the off, but the ball spun sharply and caught the top edge which Haddin snaffled.

Tendulkar's century looked anything but assured as he was dropped twice.


Johnson made a mess of a fairly straight forward chance as Tendulkar looked to hit over the top and miscued.

Lee dropped another similar opportunity, Krejza being the unfortunate bowler on both occasions.

Johnson, however, made amends as he caught Tendulkar on the crease, wrapping him on the pads as the batsman had shuffled back to defend. Billy Bowden upheld the appeal for leg before.

Ganguly and Dhoni then carefully watched out the remaining overs.