MUNI THE BOSS

Sachin Tendulkar's record 50th test century and the unpredictable highveld weather held up South Africa's charge toward victory late on day four of the first test against India at Centurion on Sunday.

Tendulkar became the first player to the mark with his sublime 107 not out as India reached 454-8 in its second innings when play was halted 50 minutes early because of strong winds at the SuperSport Park ground and an approaching thunderstorm. It left the visiting team 30 runs short of South Africa's mammoth first-innings total of 620-4 declared. India was bowled out for 136 in its first innings and went on to surrender a 484-run first-innings lead. But, Tendulkar and Dhoni appeared on course to make South Africa bat again before the late wickets of Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh left the tourists hanging on.

Tendulkar stroked 12 fours and a six in 197 balls for his milestone century in his 175th match _ and wrestled back some pride for India.
Tendulkar stroked 12 fours and a six in 197 balls for his milestone century in his 175th match _ and wrestled back some pride for India.

``It's wonderful that it's come in this manner. But, in whichever manner it comes I would have welcomed it,'' he said. ``It was extremely important for us to come back strong and send a strong message. I think we've been able to do that.''

Dhoni had battered 14 fours _ and a 40-ball half-century _ on the way to 90 from just 106 balls as the pair raised slim hopes that India could save the three-test series opener.

But South Africa was suddenly on the brink of victory late in the final session when Dhoni edged a rising delivery from Dale Steyn (3-103) to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher and Harbhajan was out to spinner Paul Harris (2-88) five balls later.

The weather also turned suddenly late in the afternoon as umbrellas were blown out of their stands and the players scurried from the pitch _ with just enough time for the crowd to applaud the 37-year-old Tendulkar off the pitch.

He ended the day 107 not out from 226 balls, with 14 boundaries _ his seventh century this year. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was 3 not out.

Tendulkar had caressed a drive through extra-cover for a single soon after tea to move to his 50th 100, 20 years after his first as a 17-year-old teenager vs. England in 1990. He is 11 hundreds ahead of his nearest challenger, Australia's Ricky Ponting.

He had also reached 14,500 test runs _ over 2,000 more than Ponting in second place _ when he went to 99 in the same over off Steyn, before his century gave India a significant moment in what is likely to be a heavy defeat in the series-opener.

.The weather also turned suddenly late in the afternoon as umbrellas were blown out of their stands and the players scurried from the pitch _ with just enough time for the crowd to applaud the 37-year-old Tendulkar off the pitch.

He ended the day 107 not out from 226 balls, with 14 boundaries _ his seventh century this year. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was 3 not out.

Tendulkar had caressed a drive through extra-cover for a single soon after tea to move to his 50th 100, 20 years after his first as a 17-year-old teenager vs. England in 1990. He is 11 hundreds ahead of his nearest challenger, Australia's Ricky Ponting.

He had also reached 14,500 test runs _ over 2,000 more than Ponting in second place _ when he went to 99 in the same over off Steyn, before his century gave India a significant moment in what is likely to be a heavy defeat in the series-opener.

Tendulkar marked the moment with a low punch in the air, and then removed his helmet to glance up at the sky before acknowledging the crowd's applause.

``I'm OK,'' he said. ``It's just another number for me. It's nice. Obviously, I can't say that I'm not happy. I'm happy, but I don't know how to express this. I'm just happy.

``It's good that it's come. Hopefully it doesn't stop there, it just continues.''

No. 2-ranked South Africa appeared destined for a dominant victory on the fourth day of its contest against the world's top team as India lost four wickets in the first session to slip from 190-2 overnight to 277-6 at lunch.

Ishant Sharma fell to Steyn after a sharp catch by Hashim Amla at short leg, and then Rahul Dravid (43), VVS Laxman (8) and Suresh Raina (5) were out in quick succession. India limped to the interval 207 runs behind.

Dravid had reached exactly 12,000 test runs, only the third man to do so, before he was beaten by Morne Morkel and edged a catch to Boucher and began a mini-collapse as India lost 3 wickets for 35 runs in 13 overs. .Tendulkar was on 38 when Dhoni began his innings, but the India skipper raced to 50 with nine boundaries to reach the mark just two overs after Tendulkar.

Tendulkar had played perfectly timed off-side drives, reaching 50 for the 109th time in his 21-year career with a lash for four through the covers off Steyn.

Dhoni favored the off-side too, punishing anything near his off-stump with full-blooded swings of his bat to send the ball flying to the boundary.

The pair cruised to their 100-run partnership off 144 balls, sharing 14 fours, as South Africa's bowlers went wicketless through the entire session.

Dhoni finally fell to Steyn four overs before the end, for the fast bowler's sixth wicket of the match, and Harris spun one enough for Harbhajan to edge to Jacques Kallis at slip as South Africa closed in on a series lead _ provided the thunderstorms forecast for Monday's final day stay away long enough.

"I think we bowled pretty well today,'' Harris said. ``We expected it to be a hard day. That's what it was, it was proper test cricket today. That partnership between Dhoni and Tendulkar was a good one for India and they showed the fight that we expected them to show.

"It's a pity about the rain, we couldn't finish it off today, but hopefully we can come back tomorrow and do it pretty quickly."

But Dhoni joined the fray straight after lunch and sailed to 72 from 83 balls by tea _ his 20th test half-century _ as he inspired India's counterattack.

.......


Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (90) had led a gritty fightback for top-ranked India with a 172-run partnership after it had slipped to 277-6 at lunch on day four, chasing the home team's huge total.