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Sachin Tendulkar falls 20 runs shy of much needed century
Little Master stuck on 99 centuries after Aussie hero Michael Clarke has him caught behind on 80
INDIA'S Sachin Tendulkar remains stranded on 99 international centuries after he was dismissed for 80 when Australia beat India in the second Test at Sydney. The man they call the ‘Little Master' walked to the crease on eight not out with something special needed from him if the tourists were to overhaul Australia's first innings lead of 468.
Tendulkar began in cracking form in front of a small Sydney crowd. Together with Gautam Gambhir he added 53 from 42 balls in just over half-an-hour, and though his partner fell for 83 Tendulkar raced to a flawless fifty. At lunch he was undefeated on 70 and the Sydney Cricket Ground began to fill for the afternoon session as cricket fans arrived in the hope of seeing Tendulkar become the first player to reach a century of international centuries.
But half an hour after lunch Tendulkar got a thin outside edge off a ball from spinner Michael Clarke and the catch was snaffled at first slip by Michael Hussey. According to the Times of India "the moment Tendulkar's wicket fell there was stunned silence at the SCG and one could hear only [wicketkeeper Brad] Haddin and Hussey screaming in delight".
For Clarke, the Test has been something of a personal triumph. He captured the prized wicket of Tendulkar after scoring a record 329 in Australia's huge first innings total of 659 for four declared.
The Sydney Morning Herald's cricket correspondent was less melodramatic than his Indian colleague, noting a "bit of muted disappointment" among the crowd when Tendulkar was caught.
This latest failure means he's now gone 18 innings without a Test ton. The last international century that the 38 year-old scored was the 111 he notched up against South Africa in a World Cup match last March.
Tendulkar's teammates put up some spirited resistance after his departure, with Zaheer Khan and Ravi Ashwin adding an entertaining 56 runs for the eighth wicket, but five wickets from Ben Hilfenhaus ensured Australia bowled out India for 400 to win by an innings and 68 runs. ·
