MELBOURNE: Sachin Tendulkar’s latest setback within sight of his elusive 100th international century may have dismayed fans at the first Melbourne Test on Tuesday, but not his Indian teammates.
Test cricket’s greatest run-getter was sensationally bowled for 73 by paceman Peter Siddle with just three balls left on the second day of the opening Test against Australia.
The wicket sent groans around the vast Melbourne Cricket Ground from the sizeable Indian contingent in the 53,000 crowd, denied the chance of seeing the “Little Master” reach the landmark on Wednesday.
India reached the close in a commanding position at 214 for three, trailing Australia’s first innings 333 by 119 runs with Rahul Dravid, second only to Tendulkar for most Test runs, unbeaten on 68 after getting a reprieve on 65 when he was bowled by a Siddle no-ball.
Tendulkar, who has been on 99 Test and ODI centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March, looked in great touch but lost his stumps in an inspired final over from the stout-hearted Siddle.
He faced just 98 balls and hit eight fours and a six in a 117-run stand with Dravid for the third wicket.
The “Little Master” played some signature cover drives and an audacious upper cut over the slips for six off Siddle’s first ball after tea.
Australia thought they had finally got rid of Dravid on 65 when he was bowled by Siddle late in the day, only for him to get a reprieve for a no-ball.
There were precious few high points for Australia on a back-breaking day in the field other than the wickets of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
Paceman James Pattinson bowled the adventurous Sehwag in the penultimate over before tea to bring Tendulkar to the crease, greeted by a standing ovation from the 53,000 MCG crowd.
Sehwag was dropped three times on his way to a brisk 67 off 83 balls with seven fours in his 75-run stand with Dravid.
He had his first “life” on 11 when he was dropped by Mike Hussey low in the gully off Pattinson.
Sehwag continued to live dangerously and hit successive fours off spinner Nathan Lyon to reach 51, but attempted a lofted shot next ball that was put down in a difficult diving chance by David Warner at long on.
Seven runs later Haddin hashed a one-gloved diving effort off Pattinson.
Sehwag, who smashed a one-day record score of 219 off 149 balls against the West Indies in Indore earlier this month, has now scored 8,047 runs in 93 Tests.
Gambhir was surprised by Ben Hilfenhaus’s extra pace and bounce and edged to Haddin for three in the eighth over.
Earlier, the Australia tail added 56 runs for the last four wickets in 97 minutes of batting time.
Haddin only lasted 10 minutes before he snicked Zaheer Khan to Sehwag in the gully for 27, ending a partnership of 72 runs with Peter Siddle.
Siddle’s 99-ball resistance ended with a great delivery from Zaheer.
The Indian left-armer got one to leave Siddle off the pitch and prise a catch behind for M.S. Dhoni for 41.
Hilfenhaus hit three fours in his unrestrained 19 before holing out to Virat Kohli in the deep off spinner Ravi Ashwin.
Lyon was last man out bowled attempting to sweep Ashwin for six, leaving Pattinson 18 not out off 54 balls.
Zaheer finished the best of India’s bowlers with four for 77 off 31 overs, while Umesh Yadav and Ashwin claimed three wickets each.
