High in Chennai

[netfree]

CHENNAI: Sachin Tendulkar, one of the all-time greats and the best runmaking machine of the modern era, had one blemish in his long and illustrious career. Critics had averred that his contribution in India’s run-chase had been dismal by his high standards. On Monday with his majestic unbeaten 103 he set the record straight by guiding India to a sixwicket win against England on the final day of the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Monday. India achieved the target (387-4) in 98.3 overs.

It will certainly be on top of the list of India’s wins at home, considering the circumstances under which it was played.

Giving him company on the historic occasion was Yuvraj Singh, who slammed an unbeaten 85 (131b, 196m, 8x4, 1x6).The duo were involved in an unfinished stand worth 163 runs for the fifth wicket, which shut all the doors for England, who were in contention in the afternoon, having reduced India to 224 for 4.

While on 99 and with India requiring four runs to win, Tendulkar employed the paddle sweep to notch a boundary off Graeme Swann to score his 41st Test century and fashion India’s memorable win. In doing so India successfully chased the fourth highest target set in the history of the game. It was Tendulkar’s (103 n.o., 317m, 196b, 9x4) fifth century at Chepauk, his favourite ground.

He raced to 90s by scoring two boundaries (cover drive, sweep) off Monty Panesar. The 25,000 strong crowd was on its feet. Yuvraj too helped Tendulkar in getting his ton by playing dot balls and earned the appreciation of the crowd.

The chase and pattern in which the match went today reminded one of the tie Test against Australia here in 1986. If the architect of the tie-Test was Sunil Gavaskar, it was Tendulkar today.

Coming in at 141-2, Tendulkar stitched useful partnerships with Gautam Gambhir and VVS Laxman.

He later calmed down an error prone Yuvraj (who wild swings off Panesar) not to throw away his wicket and saw to that the team romped home in style.

Tendulkar cut down on his flamboyance and held fort at one end, while Yuvraj with his controlled aggression did the scoring and blossomed in the company of maestro.

Yuvraj used his feet well and struck Swann twice to the fence square of the wicket and later carted Panesar over long on.

Sensing that Yuvraj was getting into one-day mode. Pietersen removed his spinners and brought in Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, who managed to check the run flow but never looked like taking a wicket.

Swann in his third spell was effective. Yuvraj enjoyed a slice of luck while on 34 and 79. On the first occasion he survived a confident shout for a catch when he (Yuvraj) was plumb leg before.

Action replays on television showed that the ball was in line with the stump. And the second one Matt Prior missed an easy stumping chance, with Swann being the unlucky bowler on both the occasions.

FLINTOFF VS TENDULKAR

Flintoff, who touched nearly 140 kmph regularly, was easily the pick of the pacers and bowled flat out to Tendulkar. He tested the maestro with bouncers and short stuff. But Tendulkar was not tempted. Flintoff also tried to sledge with his glares, glances and utterance but Tendulkar ignored him. He did the same with Yuvraj, but the lefthander returned back with a punishing half-century.

Laxman in his short stay was a delight to watch. With the ball coming on to the bat he oozed elegance.

His cover drive off James Anderson on the rise was the shot of the day. He also straight drove Flintoff once to the fence to make his intention clear. However, he got out after lunch to Swann. His gentle push was lapped up by Ian Bell at forward short leg.

Earlier in the morning, India had a disastrous start, losing Rahul Dravid. The former India captain’s batting horrors continue to haunt him. Dravid fell in the fourth over of the day for 4. Dravid went forward to play an outswinger from Flintoff away from his body and edged it to Prior. He also did not move his feet and was glued to the wicket, which is cause for major worry in the twilight of his career.

Just before lunch, Gambhir after notching up his eight Test fifty fell in identical fashion to that of Dravid. This time the bowler was Anderson and fielder being Paul Collingwood at gully.