Sachin misses 100th ton but India sail past Windies

The match, as it happened

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Twenty four runs were needed for the mega milestone and India were just 43 runs away from victory. VVS Laxman, at the other end, was at his flowing best but there were doubts aplenty. Will Laxman go after the bowling, leaving him stranded? Will the team management ask him to go slow?

Cricket is art of the possible, and there was this sinking feeling on Wednesday morning that Sachin Tendulkar would get to his 100th international century.

Thus the day began with an air of expectancy, with Kotla witnessing the highest turnout in four days. The stands were half-filled even before the first ball was bowled.

But after all the hoopla, the result was an anti-climax. Tendulkar fell short of the milestone yet again, a whimpering end to the surge of expectations.

It was like foreplay without the main action.

Yet, it was no mean effort by the Little Master. His 76 guided India to a comprehensive victory in the first Test.

It was one of his finest batting performances during which he emerged as the highest scorer in world cricket in the fourth innings.

Courtesy Tendulkar’s innings of exemplary application and poise, India recorded their third-biggest chase ever. The maestro displayed remarkable resolve and spunk, especially after Rahul Dravid’s dismissal early in the day.

The day began with India at 162 for three, needing a further 114 runs. There was a creepy hint of the danger ahead. It may not have lost on Tendulkar that on the same wicket against the same bowling, India had misplaced eight wickets for 96 in the first innings. This time, though, Tendulkar ensured that India didn’t slip up.

In the company of Laxman, he thwarted the early surge by the West Indian bowlers, Fidel Edwards in particular. Edwards managed to extract reverse swing but the Indians were up to the task. Tendulkar and Laxman added 71 for the fourth wicket and took the hosts to safety. As India were inching closer towards the target, Tendulkar started playing freely and collected a few fours.

Laxman, too, after an initial flurry of boundaries, appeared to encourage the master to do it for the century. However, Tendulkar was undone by a Bishoo-googly while attempting a pull. The ball hit him on the back foot and he was dismissed leg-before for the third time in a row.

From that point onwards, the home team went through the motions. Laxman and Yuvraj Singh went about the chase with a steady approach. They avoided risky shots before Darren Sammy beat Yuvraj with a delivery that kept low. At this point, the scores were level. Dhoni survived a similar delivery in the next ball before Laxman finished the match with a boundary.

Credit to the West Indies who pushed India to the brink. Just that the home team was too good in the end.