1st Test: Sachin falls after 46th century

NEW DELHI: Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed after hitting his 46th century on the fourth day of the first Test against South Africa at the VCA stadium in Nagpur on Tuesday.

Tendulkar achieved the milestone after lunch when he played a Wayne Parnell delivery to point for a single. This is Tendulkar’s first century against South Africa in India.

This is Tendulkar’s third century in as many Test matches as he got centuries in the last two Tests against Bangladesh.

But Tendulkar soon fell after his hundred edging a Paul Harris delivery onto his stumps.

Before lunch, Tendulkar survived a sharp chance in the slip cordon before reaching his 55th Test fifty to lead India to 162/4 in their second essay at lunch on Day four.

The partnership between Murali Vijay and Tendulkar produced 72 runs. The pair had got together late Monday evening after the hosts had lost openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag by the fifth over.

Tendulkar was watchful but did not spare bad balls either. He square cut Dale Steyn for his first boundary in the second over of the day and then played a wristy flick to the square leg fence for another boundary.

Tendulkar was lucky to see his glide off Wayne Parnell grassed by Jacques Kallis – the lone slip – while on 45 in first over after the first drinks break.

But two other similar shots, played with fine control, to the third man fence fetched Tendulkar his half-century. It took him only 51 balls on Day 4 to reach the landmark from his overnight 15 and included seven hits to the fence.