Skipper Sachin Tendulkar was one short of a classy hundred as he pulled
his team out of the woods with a fruitful and unbeaten fifth wicket stand with
Yuvraj Singh on the second day of India's tour game against England
Lions here today.
Riding on the brilliance of Tendulkar, India went to tea at 173 for four
after being pinned down to 65 for four soon after lunch.
At the break, Tendulkar was 99 not out off 134 balls in which
he smashed 13 delightful boundaries and a six. Yuvraj gave him good company
and was batting on 44. He faced 77 balls and hit six fours.
India added 110 runs in the post-lunch session for the loss
of just one wicket.
Together, India's fifth wicket pair has so far added 108 runs in 27 overs.
Coming in to bat when India had lost Wasim Jaffer (1),
VVS Laxman (0) and Dinesh Kaarthick (5), Tendulkar took the attack to
the England Lions bowlers and played some spectacular shots all round the park.
He began in the right earnest on-driving Onions to the fence
to get into the mood. Then he put the pacer in his place as he repeatedly unleashed
some excellent carpet drives with lovely timing. He hit no less than seven fours
off Graham Onions after he struck a double blow in his very first over.
India went to lunch at 63 for three but suffered another blow
after resumption when Sourav Ganguly (14) top edged a pull off Chris
Tremlett to offer an easy return catch.
However, Tendulkar continued undaunted in the company of Yuvraj
who too looked in good form playing some splendid drives in front of the wicket.
A cut past point brought up Tendulkar's half century.
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