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| Sunday, 11 December 2005 |
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Tendulkar creates history at the Kotla Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from India NEW DELHI, December 10 - History was created at the Feroz Shah Kotla grounds here today when India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar became the new world record holder for the most number of Test hundreds surpassing compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. Before bad light ended play 14.2 overs ahead of time, Tendulkar completed the historic landmark when he pushed a Chaminda Vaas delivery to mid wicket for a single to reach his 35th Test century. He raised his arms and looked up towards the sky as if thanking the Almighty for helping him gets there. But in fact he may have been also thanking his late father who passed away during the 1999 World Cup. "The first hundred is always a memorable one, but this hundred was an emotional one," said 32-year-old Tendulkar who was playing in his 125th Test. "All my hundreds are important but these two are special. I got a little bit more emotional because if my father was there he would have enjoyed this moment. The first person to see me practice was my father," he said. "There have been very few times in my life where I have got emotional. It is probably the first time I felt something differently," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar further said that heroes will always be heroes and that Sunil Gavaskar was his hero. But he was still awaiting a congratulatory message from Gavaskar. Tendulkar described his record breaking century as 'extremely satisfying' and added that during the first half of the innings he found run making difficult, but in the second half he managed to get a few boundaries because Sri Lanka started to change a few things. The right-hander ended days of anxiety and the pressures he had to endure since December 5 last year, the day after he came on par with Gavaskar's world Test record of 34 Test centuries. "The best team advice I received incidentally was from my wife. She kept telling me not to think about the hundred. That made a big difference. I feel calls of that kind really help," said Tendulkar. Urged by a 20,000 strong spectators chanting 'Sachin, Sachin', Tendulkar survived some anxious moment to be unbeaten on hundred scored in 279 minutes off 177 balls inclusive of 13 fours and a six. However he added that the team's cause was on top of the list more than reaching landmarks. "You have to come back to reality and think about the game. We have put up a good total and tomorrow is very important. The first innings total is going to be a vital one and we want to achieve that," said Tendulkar. India who won the toss and batted finished on 245 for three wickets with Tendulkar and former captain Sourav Ganguly (39) figuring in an unfinished fourth wicket stand of 112 off 218 balls. Tendulkar was tested by Dilhara Fernando with a few short balls outside the off stump which he managed to survive. He was also lucky with two close leg before decisions at one and at 24 off Fernando and at 33 against Muralitharan. Those were the near misses he went through his innings which was chanceless. Although Fernando went wicketless he bowled exceptionally well maintaining a disciplined line and length and testing the batsmen time and again with his slow and short of length deliveries. To Fernando's credit he did not concede a single no-ball, a disease he has always been affected with. Sri Lanka began well when Chaminda Vaas needing two wickets to top 300 Test wickets trapped Gambhir lbw in the third ball of the innings. But skipper Rahul Dravid opening the innings for the sick Virender Sehwag and VVS Lakshman steadied the boat with a 54-run stand before Muralitharan dismissed both of them. Dravid was taken off bat-pad for 24 and Lakshman was deceived by the doosra and was dismissed for 69. Those were to be Sri Lanka's only success of the day although they could have had Ganguly at 11 when wicket-keeper Sangakkara missed an easy stumping off Muralitharan. The former captain under pressure to score runs lived to fight another day. Sri Lanka's cricket throughout the day was disciplined and they were not lucky with a few lbw decisions which went against them and the catch that gave Ganguly a reprieve. INDIA - 1ST INNINGS
G. Gambhir lbw b Vaas 2
R. Dravid c Mubarak b Muralitharan 24
V. Laxman c Sangakkara b Muralitharan 69
S. Tendulkar not out 100
S. Ganguly not out 39
Extras (B-4 LB-7) 11
TOTAL (for 3 wickets, 75.4 overs) 245
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-2, 2-56, 3-133.
TO BAT: Y. Singh, M. Dhoni, A. Agarkar,
A. Kumble, H. Singh, I. Pathan.
BOWLING: C. Vaas 20.4-4-77-1, D. Fernando 18-5-43-0,
M. Muralitharan 28-6-77-2, M. Bandara 8-0-33-0,
T. Dilshan 1-0-4-0.
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