India in control as Tendulkar misses record

Sachin Tendulkar may have missed out on sole possession of a world record but it could not take the shine off another wonderful day for India in the first Test against Pakistan in Mohali yesterday.

Sachin Tendulkar may have missed out on sole possession of a world record but it could not take the shine off another wonderful day for India in the first Test against Pakistan in Mohali yesterday.

Tendulkar started the match level with compatriot Sunil Gavaskar on 34 Test centuries and was set to move to the top of the all-time list when he raced to 94. But he was dismissed by playing a loose shot off Naved-ul-Hasan to Asim Kamal in the gully.

India closed on 447 for 6, a first-innings lead of 135, with Tendulkar playing a prominent role after the dismissal of Virender Sehwag. Sehwag, who completed his ninth Test century in the morning session, was dismissed shortly after lunch following a wonderful innings of 173, including 19 fours and two sixes.

He and Tendulkar put on 118 for the third wicket before Sehwag was caught trying to loft Abdul Razzaq over mid-on. By then, Rahul Dravid had already departed for 50 after cutting Mohammad Sami to Kamal.

The captain, Sourav Ganguly, made 21 before Danish Kaneria had him caught bat and pad.

Dinesh Karthik (6) was out trying to turn a rising Sami delivery on to the on-side but V V S Laxman (33 not out) and Irfan Pathan (1 not out) saw India to the close.

A century from Hamish Marshall and a half-century for the debutant Craig Cumming were the highlights as New Zealand made a good start in the first Test against Australia in Wellington.

Sent in by the Australia captain, Ricky Ponting, on a good batting wicket at Jade Stadium, the Black Caps ended the first day on 265 for 3 with Marshall and Nathan Astle unbeaten on 103 and 29 respectively.

It was a long day of toil for Australia's bowlers. Glenn McGrath ended the day wicketless, while Mike Kasprowicz finished with figures of 1 for 64 off 18 overs, Shane Warne 1 for 60 off 25 and Michael Clarke 1 for 16 off 5.