Thursday, January 24, 2008

Tendlya

Sachin Tendulkar played one of the best innings (unbeaten 124) in recent memory to post a competitive 309/5 at stumps on Day 1 of fourth and final test. Even by his standards, this inning had everything. He got off the mark by driving Brett Lee for 4. He and Laxman set up a wonderful partnership of 126 at run rate of 4.

After tea in the final sesison, he changed his gears. The batsmanship that followed was exhibition of masterful strokemaking. He scored 69 runs in single session hitting spin duo of Clarke and Hogg at run a ball.

For those who care about stats, Sachin's average against Australia in Australia of batting in first innings is, hold your breath, 102.40.

But numbers dont always tell the story. His footwork, the way he came down the track to hit spinners, his placement and accuracy in it to put the shot where he wanted was amazing. As Sunil Gavaskar told him he looked like 'Tendlya' as Mumbai knows him.

There is little history to this beautiful Adelaide ground. This is homeground of Sir Don Bradman. Here itself Brian Lara scored 226 on his last appearance in Australia.And now our own Little master has made his first century at the Adelaide Oval.