Summary A Sachin Tendulkar century surpasses almost every other experience the world has to offer.
Mumbai: A Sachin Tendulkar century, in the eyes of his fans, surpasses almost every other experience the world has to offer. The effect is rather more pronounced when it’s scored before his home crowd at the Wankhede Stadium.
And when the manner of its achievement is as exquisite and chanceless as it was on Friday, it’s time to start thanking one’s stars for being in the vicinity of the maestro while he’s at work in the middle.
Tendulkar’s unconquered 140 against Rest of India failed to give Mumbai the all-important first innings lead in the Irani Cup, but it showcased the best of his batting, skills upon which repeated, recent failures had cast a miasma of doubt. Was he too old? Had the inevitable drag of time arrested his apparently ceaseless flight into an even grander greatness?
Agreed the bowling on display – although consisting of four players with Test experience – was not of the highest quality. That took little away from Tendulkar, who batted like he hadn’t in a long time, claiming ownership of two more records on the way.
He joined Sunil Gavaskar on 81 first class centuries – the most by an Indian – and crossed 25,000 first class runs. It was a knock of special radiance, studded with all that he has come to be known for: off-side punches; the cheeky paddle sweep; the adventurous upper cut; a couple of dead-straight drives; the freedom that marked the first half of his long career.
Alongside this exhilarating performance, Rest of India went diligently about their business: removing batsmen from the other end and dismissing the hosts for 409 as Tendulkar remained intractable. The visitors lost a careless Shikhar Dhawan in the five overs they had to contend with before close, at which point they stood 144 ahead, nine wickets in hand, two more days to go. Mumbai’s tardiness allowed for just 79 overs to be bowled on Friday, despite play being extended by thirty minutes.
