Sachin Tendulkar created a record for most centuries in Test cricket to put India in a strong position at the end of the opening day in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the Ferozshah Kotla in Delhi on Saturday.
Tendulkar, who was unbeaten on 100 at close, registered his 35th Test century to surpass compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's long-standing record of 34 Test centuries.
India were 245 for 3 after 74.5 overs before play was called off early due to fading light.
Sourav Ganguly survived a shaky start to remain not out on 39. He gave good support to Tendulkar as the duo were involved in an unbroken 112-run partnership for the third wicket.
Earlier, V V S Laxman played a fine innings of 69, inclusive of 12 boundaries, to help India recover after the early loss of a couple of wickets.
For Sri Lanka, Muttiah Muralitharan was the most successful bowler, claiming two wickets for 77 runs in 28 overs.
Morning session: (68 runs, 2 wickets, 18 overs)
India captain Rahul Dravid elected to bat on winning the toss, even though the team was without regular opener and local boy Virender Sehwag, who was ruled out with a fever and throat infection.
In a move that would surprise a few, Dravid opted to open the innings, thereby doing away with any experimentation that was expected. His experience and technique is more equipped to handle the seamers early on than risking the likes of the Dhonis and Yuvrajs.
India won the last five matches played at the Kotla, three of which were against Zimbabwe, and one each against Pakistan and Australia. Their win-loss record at the venue stands at 8-6, which they would be keen to improve upon.
Chaminda Vaas carried on his good form from the first match in Chennai, when he scalped the wicket of Gambhir as early as the third ball of the match. The left-handed opener preferred to play back to a pitched up delivery, but was hit on the pads right in front of the stumps. (2-1, 0.3)
Unlike Chennai, this pitch had good carry and the ball came on to the bat nicely.
Vaas nearly got the second wicket, that of V V S Laxman, but umpire Simon Taufel turned down a very close leg before wicket appeal in the third over of the match. Laxman survived another chance when an inside edge in Vaas's next over just missed the stumps.
Muttiah Muralitharan was introduced quite early, in the eighth over of the innings, to utilise the bowling-friendly conditions at Kotla.
But Laxman and Dravid steadied the innings after the early dismissal of Gambhir. They did not let the bowlers dry the runs as they scored boundaries regularly. They brought up their 50-run partnership for the second wicket from 71 balls and looked on top of their game.
But as things started going India's way, Muralitharan scalped the prized wicket of Dravid. India's captain was caught by Jehan Mubarak, stationed at forward short leg, for 24. (56-2, 13.2)
Dravid looked good in his 43-ball stay at the crease, hitting five boundaries and adding 54 runs for the second wicket with Laxman. His dismissal brought Sachin Tendulkar, looking for his 35th century to go past Sunil Gavaskar's record, to the crease.
Tendulkar, who played a subdued innings on a difficult pitch at Chennai, looked to dominate proceedings right from the start. His flick to the square leg boundary off Dilhara Fernando was a beauty.
Only 18 overs were possible in the first session of play, which was reduced to 90 minutes because of heavy dew on the outfield.
At lunch, India were 68 for 2, with Laxman looking good on 33 from 47 balls, with six boundaries.
For Sri Lanka, Vaas (1 for 30) and Muralitharan (1 for 20) claimed a wicket to keep their team in the hunt on a pitch getting better and better for the batsmen.
The Indian batsmen must now ensure that they do not lose any further wickets in the second session, while scoring at a good rate, to take control of the match. A huge first innings score would be their plan, while Sri Lanka would look to regularly chip at the wickets, while restricting India's scoring.
Post-Lunch session: (96 runs, 1 wicket, 34 overs)
Muralitharan was hard to score off in the previous Test, but here Tendulkar made sure that he would not be bogged down. He charged down the wicket in his first over after lunch, and then in the next played an aerial sweep on the leg side.
Laxman brought up his 23rd half-century in Tests with his trademark flick on the leg side off leg-spinner Maling Bandara. The Hyderabadi's very, very special shots were back in full flow as he struck nine sweetly-timed boundaries to reach the landmark in 79 balls.
After the couple of boundaries, Tendulkar concentrated in getting his eye in, mainly looking to play on the leg side for singles and twos, while waiting for the loose ones.
But Laxman was in no mood to let the bowlers just dry the runs up and it was evident when he charged down the wicket to hoist Bandara over his head as India progressed to 113 for 2 after 30 overs.
A determined Tendulkar survived a testing spell from Fernando, who troubled the little master with his short delivery, hitting him twice on his body.
Laxman played some carefree cricket before his brilliant innings came to an end when Muralitharan foxed him with his 'doosra' delivery. Bowling round the wicket, Muralitharan forced Laxman to play outside the off-stump, which resulted in his edge being gobbled by wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkkara. (133-3, 39.2)
Laxman scored 69 from 117 balls, with 12 boundaries, adding 77 runs for the third wicket with Tendulkar. He was unlucky not to score more runs as he received a peach of delivery from the champion off-spinner.
Sourav Ganguly walked out to a huge cheer from the crowd and he received another when he hit a straight boundary off Muralitharan early in his innings.
However, Muralitharan, spun a web around Tendulkar and Ganguly to restrict the scoring rate. Ganguly, on 11, charged down the wicket to Muralitharan, but Sangakkara messed up an easy chance in the 49th over to hand a much-needed lifeline to the deposed Indian captain.
Tendulkar hit a couple of cover drives to finish unbeaten on 48 as India went into the tea break at 164 for 3 from 52 overs. Giving him company was Ganguly, who played an unconvincing innings of 14, still wondering how lucky he was to be walking back unbeaten at the break.
But the session belonged to Laxman, who sizzled in the afternoon sun, hitting 12 boundaries in his knock of 67. Sri Lanka tried many different things and managed to peg back the scoring rate after the dismissal of Laxman, however it is the wicket of Tendulkar that they would be wishing to get in the next session.
For India, the need of the hour is ensuring that there are no calamities in the final session of play, with an inexperienced lower order to follow. Their main job will be to play out Vaas and Muralitharan with minimum fuss and try to score against the other bowlers.
Post-tea session: (81 runs, 0 wickets, 23.4 overs)
Tendulkar reached his half-century with a single on the leg-side, his 42nd in Tests. It took him 112 balls to reach the landmark, but the important aspect was that he looked determined to play a big knock and lead India to a huge total.
His presence was also a huge moral-booster for Ganguly, who is under severe pressure to retain his place in the side.
The best part about Tendulkar's batting was its unpredictability -- defensive mostly, but he would shift gears occasionally. In the 65th over bowled by Muralitharan, he caressed the off-spinner for three boundaries through the off-side to take his score to 73 and India to 203 for 3 after 65 overs.
A few tight overs by the spinners and then the little master jumped down the wicket to loft leg-spinner Bandara over the long-on fence for a huge six to reach 82.
It seemed to break the shackles as he started to score more freely and advance at a rapid rate towards the much-awaited 35th Test century.
He didn't waste too much time in the nineties, using all the experience of his 16-year stint in international cricket.
Finally, the 35th Test century came, courtesy of a gentle push on the leg-side as the huge gathering at the Kotla burst into applause. The century took 177 balls, and included 13 boundaries and a huge six and was one of his most hard-earned ones.
Playing his 125th match, he surpassed compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's record of 34 Test centuries. He had to graft hard, was made to earn every run, but he stood firm, didn't let the pressure get to him and, in the end, it was a deserving century for the 32-year-old. Among current batsmen, Brian Lara is the closest to him with 31 centuries to his credit.
His last century was the 248 not out against Bangladesh at Dhaka in December 2004.
The Indians immediately accepted the light offered by the umpires and walked off as play was called off on the opening day of the Test with the score 245 for 3 after 75.4 overs.
Tendulkar was unbeaten on 100, while at the other end Ganguly was not out on 39 from 114 balls. The former India captain also seemed to find his footing as he played a couple of delightful shots near the end of the day.
For Sri Lanka, as expected Muralitharan bowled for the most part of the day, claiming 2 for 77 in his 28 overs. Vaas gave him good support with 1 for 77 in 20.4 overs.
Tendulkar's century has now given India a position of strength from where they can dictate terms on day two. They will try to pile a huge first innings score and ensure that they do not need to bat again in the second innings.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have their task cut out. Their foremost objective would be to take the wicket of Tendulkar, else the match could well slip away from their hands.
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