Tendulkar helps India wrap up Test win

NEW DELHI—The hosts needed only 32 runs to win with seven wickets in hand to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series, with Tendulkar (56 not out) completing the formality with his 46th half-century.
Resuming at 171-3, India achieved their 203-run target after just 6.2 overs on Monday morning. Venkatsai Laxman remained unbeaten on six. Tendulkar, 32 overnight, was in punishing mood as he pulled fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami for fours early in the morning.
He reached his half-century when he hammered leg-spinner Danish Kaneria through the covers for a boundary and finished the match with a square-cut four off Akhtar. “Every time he (Tendulkar) goes out to bat he has to handle pressure and he has done it for the last 18 years,” said India captain Anil Kumble.
“The hunger is there as always. He is definitely going to be number one Test batsman in terms of runs, centuries, everything.” Tendulkar is the second-highest scorer in Tests with 11,207 runs and a record 37 centuries. Retired West Indies captain Brian Lara leads with 11,953. Akhtar was the most impressive bowler, finishing with 4-58.
He again bowled with fire, denying left-handed Sourav Ganguly a 50 in his second over of the morning. The Indian batsman was caught pulling by debutant Sohail Tanvir at fine-leg. Ganguly fell at his overnight score of 48 after putting on 88 for the fourth wicket with Tendulkar to help ensure a comfortable victory. He hit eight fours in his 64-ball knock.Sachin Tendulkar completed a robust half-century as India coasted to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening cricket test Monday. Needing just 32 runs on the final morning, India lost overnight batsman Sourav Ganguly before Tendulkar (56 not out) reached his 46th half-century to drive India home.
Chasing a modest target of 203, India was on the verge of victory at 171 for three when play ended Sunday. Tendulkar, resuming at 32, cover drove legspinner Danish Kaneria to complete his half-century and then square-cut paceman Shoaib Akhtar for the winning boundary. His 109-ball knock contained nine fours. V.V.S. Laxman remained unbeaten on five.
Ganguly failed to add to his overnight score of 48, miscuing a pull against Akhtar to Sohail Tanvir at deep fine-leg. Bowling a fiery spell, Akhtar (4-58) was the lone Pakistan bowler to impress in India’s second innings.
Ganguly and Tendulkar added 88 runs for the fourth wicket that ensured India’s smooth sailing at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium, where it now has three wins from five tests against Pakistan.
The two other India-Pakistan matches at this venue ended in draws. This was the ground where Pakistan made its test cricket debut, but a test win here continues to elude it. Leading India to victory on his captaincy debut, the game was a personal triumph for skipper Anil Kumble who emerged as the man of the match by claiming seven wickets. Kumble produced vital breakthroughs whenever Pakistan’s batsmen sought to stage a fightback.
“This ground has been very special for me,” said Kumble, who dismissed all 10 Pakistan batsmen in an innings when India last played a test match against Pakistan at this venue in 1999.
Kumble’s feat made him only the second bowler after England’s Jim Laker to claim all 10 wickets in a test innings. “Getting Pakistan out under 250 in both innings was a credible performance for our attack,” said Kumble. “The boys responded very well, each one of them made a significant contribution.”—Agencies