NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – India’s Sachin Tendulkar became the first batsman to pass 15,000 test runs as the hosts moved within 124 runs of victory against West Indies despite losing both openers on the third day of the first test in front of a sparse crowd today.
Tendulkar, who took off his helmet, raised his bat and looked to the heavens after reaching the milestone in the final session, was batting on 33 with Rahul Dravid (30) also digging in his heels to leave India on 152 for two at the close.
India are chasing 276 to win the bowler-dominated test at Feroz Shah Kotla which is set to yield a result on day four with 38-year-old Tendulkar one century short of a record 100 tons.
Debutant off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (6-47) had earlier helped dismantle West Indies for 180 in their second innings.
India’s chase got off to a breezy start with free-scoring openers Virender Sehwag (55) and Gautam Gambhir (22) taking them past the 50-mark before Marlon Samuels broke the dangerous-looking stand.
Gambhir was beaten by Samuels’ flighted delivery that hit his pad and umpire Rod Tucker declared him leg before.
Sehwag appeared determined to make the most of the life he got when Ravi Rampaul dropped a return catch and the right-hander hit Samuels and Devendra Bishoo for six to race to his second half-century of the match.
However, Sehwag got carried away and dragged a Darren Sammy delivery onto his stumps to depart after a run-a-ball knock.
PATIENT APPROACH
Tendulkar walked out to join Dravid in the middle and the senior batsmen, with more than 56,700 international runs between them, adopted a patient approach to see through the rest of the day.
Earlier, resuming on 21 for two, West Indies lost wickets at regular intervals as India made the most of foggy morning conditions.
Ishant Sharma, who had been overshadowed by the spinners, bowled with fire and removed Fidel Edwards for one.
The lanky pacer nearly dismissed Darren Bravo (12) in the same over but Ashwin dropped the catch at extra cover.
Fellow quick Umesh Yadav claimed his maiden test wicket when he uprooted Kirk Edwards’ (33) off-stump after the batsman offered no shot.
Ashwin more than made up for his fielding lapse with a double-wicket maiden over, trapping Bravo leg before and then pegging back scoreless Marlon Samuels’ off-stump to reduce West Indies to 63 for six wickets.
Yadav removed Carlton Baugh (seven) for his second wicket of the match before Shivnarine Chanderpaul (47) put his foot down to frustrate the Indians in the company of the tailenders.
