Tendulkar's 50th century likely to be in vain

Tendulkar's 50th century likely to be in vain

REUTERS

   

Sachin Tendulkar scored his 50th test century on Sunday but it looked unlikely to save India from losing the first test against South Africa.

Tendulkar had batted for five hours in scoring 107 not out, sharing a defiant seventh-wicket stand of 172 with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (90) as India reached 454 for eight wickets when a storm ended play on the fourth day at Centurion.

His landmark century, which came in 258 minutes and 197 balls of great composure and technique, had helped India reduce their deficit from 294 runs to 30, but the world's number one ranked team have just two wickets remaining.

Tendulkar, who is test cricket's leading run-scorer with 14,509 in 175 matches, and the most prolific century-maker, had hit 13 fours, mostly through the off-side with classical strokes, and a six hammered straight back over left-arm spinner Paul Harris's head.