(BBC) Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for 74 in what could prove to be the final innings of his record-breaking career.
Tendulkar seemed on course for his 101st international century as he built on his overnight score of 38 not out against West Indies.
However, there was stunned silence inside the Wankhede Stadium when he edged Narsingh Deonarine to first slip where Darren Sammy took a sharp catch.
Tendulkar, 40, will retire following the game – his 200th Test match.
Thousands of supporters with painted faces and Indian flags queued outside the ground today morning in the hope of witnessing Tendulkar’s final innings, while millions more watched on television as many offices and schools closed for the Muslim festival Muharram.
In the morning papers in India, there were headlines such as “On 38, with a billion prayers” and “India waits for the big one” as the sense of anticipation grew.
And after surviving a strong caught-behind appeal off fast bowler Tino Best, Tendulkar brought up the 68th Test half-century of his career with an exquisite drive down the ground for four.
Tendulkar continued to look in good touch at his home ground in Mumbai as he found the boundary with increasing regularity against a struggling bowling attack.
However, he fell 26 runs short of what would have been a fairytale century when he slashed hard outside off stump against spinner Deonarine, only to see Sammy produce an excellent catch.
It was a muted celebration from Windies skipper Sammy as Tendulkar made his way off the pitch to a standing ovation.
Already the highest runscorer in Test history, Tendulkar’s innings moved his aggregate to 15,921.
He left his side, who lead the two-match series 1-0, at 221-3 in reply to the visitors’ first-innings total of 182 all out.
