Tendulkar's 50th ton and thunderstorms delay Indian defeat

Tendulkar's 50th ton and thunderstorms delay Indian defeat

It was a century that the entire nation was eagerly awaiting from Sachin Tendulkar as he completed a historic 50th Test century against South Africa at the Centurion.

India though, are two wickets away from conceding a 1-0 lead to the Proteas in the first Test, as rain brought early curtains on day four of the Test. At stumps on day 4, India was 454-8, with Tendulkar batting on 107, along with Sreesanth.

The moment Sachin found a gap through the extra-cover region to push a Dale Steyn delivery for a single, the entire stadium stood up to salute one of the true legends of the game. It is Sachin's 175th Test match -- most by any player in the history of the game. It took him four Test matches to reach the milestone after having scored his 49th against Australia in October this year.

He played 197 deliveries and 258 minutes to reach the milestone. He hit 12 boundaries and a big six over long-off with left-arm spinner Paul Harris being the sufferer. This is his seventh century in the year 2010.

If some of the Indian players like Sreesanth were seen saluting Sachin on his achievement, South Africans Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla congratulated the maestro.

The century should rank among one of the best considering the amount of pressure Indian team are in after being all out for a paltry 136 in the first innings. This is Sachin's fourth Test century on South African soil and indeed one he would cherish the most.

Tendulkar stood rock solid while Dhoni was even more aggressive than his senior partner at one stage. Dhoni gave Dale Steyn some special treatment by hitting the South African strike bowler for a flurry of fours, that too after the home side had taken the new ball.

Dhoni (90) raced to his 20th Test fifty in quick time, from just 41 balls with the help of nine fours. Surprisingly, the Indian duo did not take much chance against left-arm spinner Paul Harris who was hit for just a four -- by Dhoni.

Earlier, India lost the wickets Rahul Dravid (43), VVS Laxman (8) and Suresh Raina (5) and nightwatchman Ishant Sharma (23) in the morning session and trailed by 207 runs as they reached 277 for six at lunch.

Resuming at 190 for two, the visitors added just 87 runs from the 33.4 overs they faced in the morning session, which started half an hour before scheduled time to compensate for loss of time on the first day.

The SuperSport Park has eased out considerably with fast bowlers not posing too much of a problem as they had done on the first day but Dravid and Ishant started cautiously and runs came in trickles initially.

Dravid dug deep, playing the balls on merit while Ishant showed intent to play shots and hit three fours -- two off Lonwabo Tsotsobe and one of Dale Steyn. He added 16 runs to his overnight seven before getting out.

South Africa had to work hard for the breakthrough, which eventually came in the form of Ishant's wicket with the Indian offering a simple catch to Hashim Amla while trying to work a Steyn delivery to the square region nearly an hour into the morning session.

Tendulkar did not waste time as he opened his account with a two off the second ball he faced, of Steyn, and then hit a four in the next over of the same bowler and then off Kallis to increase the tempo.

Just when the most experience Indian duo of Tendulkar and Dravid were settling in to raise hopes of saving the match, the latter got out to a Morne Morkel delivery, which had a hint of movement besides being quick.

Dravid got a faint edge straight through to Boucher to leave India at 242 for four, still trailing by 242 runs. Dravid's 43 came from 109 balls and was studded with six fours.

After the fall of Dravid, much was expected of Laxman but he departed without much contribution to give Tsotsobe his first wicket of the match. He got a thick edge of a full delivery outside off to land straight to gully fielder Ashwell Prince. Raina did not last long as he edged a good length ball of Kallis to Paul Harris at first slip while trying to play it behind point.

Source: PTI