Tendulkar holds Indian innings together with 39th ton

Adelaide:: Sachin Tendulkar struck his second century of the series to hold the Indian innings together after his team sustained a few early blows in the crucial fourth and final Test against Australia here on Thursday.

The 34-year-old champion batsman, probably making his last Test appearance on Australian soil, slammed an unbeaten 124 to notch up his 39th ton and steer the visitors to a comfortable 309 for five at close on a keenly contested opening day.

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Tendulkar, who had scored an unbeaten 154 in the acrimonious Sydney Test, gave another stunning exhibition of strokeplay to pull the team out of the pits after the visitors were reduced to 156 for four at one stage. Mahendra Singh Dhoni (6) was giving Tendulkar company at stumps after the Indians elected to bat first at the Adelaide Oval, which has traditionally seen big first-innings totals being posted.

Virender Sehwag (63) and the stylish VVS Laxman (51) were the other notable contributors but both would be disappointed not to have converted their starts into bigger knocks on a good batting track.

The Indians were in a spot of bother at 156 for four with Sehwag, makeshift opener Irfan Pathan (9), Rahul Dravid (18) and Sourav Ganguly (7) back in the hut, but Tendulkar and Laxman salvaged the situation with a 126-run fifth-wicket partnership.

The visitors, desperate to level the four-match series 2-2, opted to go in with a five-pronged bowling attack by dropping struggling opener Wasim Jaffer and bringing back spinner Harbhajan Singh.

The masterly century from one of the greatest batsman of all time has so far spanned 281 minutes and Tendulkar has hit 10 fours and three sixes from 172 balls of vigil.

Unbeaten on nought at lunch, Tendulkar soon showed his intent by thumping Brett Lee down the ground and smacking Johnson for three fours in one over. Tendulkar took a particular liking for Brad Hogg and repeatedly came down the track to hit him to the farthest corners of the ground, including a slog-sweep for a six over midwicket.

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The master batsman completed his half-century with a clip on the onside and had faced just 77 balls and hit five fours when the landmark arrived. Unfortunately, Tendulkar did not receive much support from the other end for most of the day, Laxman being the lone exception.

The Hyderabadi stylist batted well but he failed to make the most of a reprieve after he was let off on 37 by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist behind the stumps off the irrepressible Brett Lee.

Tendulkar completed his century in style in the final session, slamming left-arm spinner Michael Clarke for a six and a four off successive balls to raise his arms in triumph. The Mumbai batsman never let his concentration waver even when batsmen at the other end were making a hash of a good opportunity.

Sehwag, Dravid, Ganguly and Laxman all wasted chances to post big scores on a flat deck.

The visitors will be hoping that Dhoni reverses the trend and that Sachin continues from where he left off when play resumes on Friday.