Tendulkar Sparks India Recovery

Sat, Apr 13, '02

Sachin Tendulkar was foiled in his attempt to equal Sir Don Bradman's mark of 29 Test centuries but a quickfire innings of 79 helped spark India's recovery.

Tendulkar led India away from trouble at 21-2, reaching 79 before he was trapped lbw by leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo. He shared a 78-run stand with Shiv Sundar Das before adding a further 43 with Rahul Dravid.

Rahul Dravid (57 n.o) and VVS Laxman (46 n.o) maintained the momentum to see India to the close without further loss.

The 28-year-old Tendulkar is playing in his 92nd Test compared to legendary Australian Bradman, who compiled his 29 hundreds from just 52 matches. Only Indian Sunil Gavaskar, with 34 hundreds in 125 Tests, has a better record.

India lost opener Deep Dasgupta and captain Sourav Ganguly cheaply inside the first five overs before Das stood firm for his 33 off 98 balls.

He eventually dragged a wide ball from Adam Sanford onto his own stumps to give the debutant his first Test wicket.

Dasgupta was lbw to Cameron Cuffy after facing just five balls for a duck.

Ganguly then mis-timed a hook off Mervyn Dillon, and was caught by Mahendra Nagamootoo for five to leave his team in trouble.

Earlier, the Windies they lost their three remaining wickets for just seven runs having resumed on 494.

Dillon was trapped lbw by all-rounder Sanjay Bangar for a duck, Sanford was dismissed by Kumble, lbw for one.

And Cuffy's was the last wicket to fall, run out after a comical mix-up with Nagamootoo who remained unbeaten on 15.

* SOURCE: BBC Sports Online