Tendulkar sets record straight with a century

Paceman Tim Southee was a two year-old toddler when Sachin Tendulkar first toured New Zealand in 1990. The Indian didn’t score too many runs in that series, his second, but the locals were sure they hadn’t seen the last of the 17-year-old, curly haired prodigy. Four years later, New Zealand got a ringside view of the launch of an opening act that became a hugely popular travelling show around the world. In Auckland, Tendulkar, opening in one-dayers for the first time, blasted a memorable, match-winning 49-ball 82.

A lot has changed since then, but not everything. The frame has thickened, the hair has thinned but the halo refuses to fade. They still applaud when he enters the ground and, on Sunday, at the AMI Stadium gave a standing ovation as Tendulkar walked out, retired hurt, for 163.

This despite the fact that the master batsman has been responsible for spoiling the bowling figures of several generations of Kiwi bowlers.

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Pathans take flight as India win

Growing up in Baroda, Yusuf and Irfan Pathan would have dreamt, perhaps, of winning a match for the country, against all odds. On Tuesday, as they leapt, pumped their fists and hugged deliriously after engineering a thrilling three wicket win, it seemed they were celebrating more than just a Twenty20 victory.

It was Yusuf who made an impact first, with the ball, when he stemmed the flow of runs with a couple of wickets just as Lanka were getting ready for a mighty assault. But there was work to be done still. Chasing 172, India were looking down the barrel after a flurry of wickets left them at 115 for 7 in 15.1 overs. However, Irfan unleashed a flurry of big shots to power the team past the finish line.

The win had looked unlikely after a horrid start saw them slip to 14 for two with both Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir back in the hut.

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