Tendulkar proves SCG is Sachin’s Cricket Ground

www.merinews.com

Abhishek Behl

A PLACARD carried by an Indian supporter read SCG as Sachin’s Cricket Ground and Tendulkar proved today that this indeed was true.

India scored 532 with the help of a scintillating Tendulkar century in the second test match of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground known as SCG.

In a day of fluctuating fortunes, Tendulkar’s unbeaten 154 runs took the battle to the Australians, who were looking to gain an upper hand, when two Indian wickets fell in quick succession.

Due to a stubborn resistance from the tail, India managed to score 532 runs, gaining a lead of 69 valuable runs.

Ishant Sharma was the last man out after scoring 23 runs, of which five were boundaries. He was caught and bowled by Brett Lee, giving the Aussies half an hour to bat before the close of the day.

Australia managed to score 13 runs without loosing a wicket, looking to take on the visitors on the fourth day of the play.

Earlier, the day belonged to Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a masterly 154, supported by a brash Harbhajan Singh, who scored 63. The duo managed a 129 partnership, with Harbhajan playing his unorthodox shots all over the ground.

It was Tendulkar, who batted cautiously in the first session and negotiated the Ausssie pace attack with a dour inning. But he changed gears immediately in the post lunch session, when Aussies put India on the mat with two quick wickets of MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble.

Dhoni cut a Brett Lee snorter from the back foot but managed only a nick to Adam Gilchrist. Captain Anil Kumble, otherwise known for stodgy resistance, also fell to the same combination.

It was at this juncture that Tendulkar changed to an attacking mode and played some delectable shots to reach his hundred.