Tendulkar Misses Out Once More

Sachin Tendulkar is still seeking a historic 100th international century after being dismissed 27 runs short on the second day of the first Test against Australia in Melbourne.

The India batsman was bowled by Peter Siddle in the last over of the day.

Rahul Dravid was 68 not out as the tourists closed on 214-3 in reply to Australia's first-innings 333.

The 38-year-old Tendulkar, who hit 73 from 98 deliveries, has been stuck on 99 hundreds since March.

He and Dravid, the two greatest Test run-scorers of all-time, put on 117 for the third wicket - their 20th century partnership.

Worryingly for Australia, the pair were looking at their ominous best before Siddle intervened and forced nightwatchman Ishant Sharma to make an appearance.

Tendulkar treated the 52,858-strong crowd to a batting masterclass with top-notch stroke play which delivered some perfectly-executed boundaries.

The 'Little Master' saw off eight balls in a nervous period before tea, following Virender Sehwag's dismissal for 67 in the penultimate over of the afternoon session.

He then set the tone for his innings with the first ball of the final session, doing so in spectacular style with an outrageous six when he flicked Siddle over the slip cordon and the third-man boundary.

Tendulkar had eight fours to go with his six, and reached his 64th Test half-century with a single off Nathan Lyon that produced one of the loudest cheers of the day from a Melbourne crowd featuring a healthy portion of Indian supporters.

Siddle did find a way through when he bowled Dravid, but the delivery was adjudged to be a no-ball after umpire Marais Erasmus referred it to the third umpire.

But Tendulkar's wicket would have served as a decent consolation for Siddle, who bowled a ripping spell at the end of the day which yielded 1-7 from four overs.

Earlier, Sehwag brought up his 8,000th Test run and combined well with Dravid as they put on 75 for the second wicket.

Australia had reached 333 thanks to some handy cameos from Siddle (41), Ben Hilfenhaus (19) and James Pattinson (18 not out) after starting the day on 277-6.

Tendulkar Just Falls Short...again

India legend Sachin Tendulkar fell six runs short of his 100th international hundred as he was out for 94 in the third and final Test against West Indies in his home city of Mumbai.

Having cruised from 67 to 94 on the fourth morning, he sliced Ravi Rampaul to skipper Darren Sammy at second slip.

Tendulkar, who has 51 Test centuries and 48 in one-day internationals, has been stuck on 99 hundreds since March.

But this is the closest he has come to the landmark of a century of centuries.

The crowd, who were packed into the Wankhede Stadium in anticipation of Tendulkar's achievement, were left stunned as their idol came so close to the feat that has been expected of him since the World Cup earlier this year.

Anticipation has grown after hemade his 99th hundred against South Africa at the World Cup, and interest centred on him throughout India's troubled summer tour of England. - where the nearest he came to three figures was scoring 91 on the last day of the Test series at The Oval.

Tendulkar began day four in confident fashion, hitting paceman Rampaul for two fours off successive overs despite overnight partner VVS Laxman falling to the first ball he faced.

The "Little Master" then took 14 off an over from Fidel Edwards, including a cover-driven four and a six over the slips, to move into the 90s.

But on the last ball of the 87th over, Rampaul struck to leave India's fans playing the waiting game again as their remaining batsmen battled to save the follow-on.

The local media were left as stunned as the supporters - with NDTV describing it as "the biggest heartbreak ever".

With bat overpowering ball for most of the match, it looks most likely to finish as a draw - and Tendulkar's best chance of batting again in this game may be if India are dismissed for less than 391 and fail to avoid the follow-on.

He remains the leading all-time Test run-scorer by a distance, having passed the 15,000 mark in the first Test of the series, and is more than 2,000 ahead of his nearest challenger - his long-term team-mate Rahul Dravid, who became only the second man to score 13,000 Test runs on his way to making 82 on Thursday.

INTERNATIONAL CENTURIONS

99 - Sachin Tendulkar

69 - Ricky Ponting

57 - Jacques Kallis

53 - Brian Lara

48 - Rahul Dravid

45 - Mahela Jayawardene

42 - Sanath Jayasuriya

40 - Matthew Hayden

39 - Mohammad Yousuf

38 - Mark Waugh, Sourav Ganguly, Kumar Sangakkara

(combined Test, one-day international and Twenty20 international centuries)

Tendulkar Sets Test Run Record

Sachin Tendulkar has become the first player in history to score 15,000 runs in Test match cricket.

The Indian batsman achieved the feat when he reached 28 not out on day three of the first Test against the West Indies in Delhi.

The 38-year-old is seeking a record 100th international century having been stuck on 99 tons since March.

Tendulkar ended the day unbeaten on 33 after being trapped lbw by Fidel Edwards for seven in the first innings.

The "Little Master" passed West Indies batsman Brian Lara's mark of 11,953 runs to become the leading Test run-scorer in 2008 and subsequently became the first cricketer in history to reach 12,000, 13,000, 14,000 and now 15,000 Test runs.

He is the leading run-scorer in one day internationals, too, and holds the record for number of international centuries scored.

Attention will now return to his bid to become the first person to score 100 international centuries having scored 51 Test and 48 ODI centuries in 635 matches.

Tendulkar reached his 99th international hundred against South Africa at this year's World Cup.

Hopes were high that he would surpass the mark on India's tour of England this summer, but the Mumbai batsman struggled for form as the tourists lost the series 4-0.

A toe injury ruled him out of the home and away ODI series against England which followed.

Speaking before the current series with West Indies, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the team were preparing to mark the 100th ton landmark.

"We will let him get the century and then we will speak about it," said Dhoni. "It's a milestone Sachin will achieve, whether in this game, the next game or some other game. It's bound to happen.

"Once he gets his ton, we all will celebrate with him. It will be a big moment for Indian cricket."

THE LITTLE MASTER'S CAREER TEST AVERAGES

Matches - 181

Runs - 15,005

Highest score - 248*

Batting average - 56.25

Centuries - 51

Wickets 45

Bowling average - 53.68