Century came almost by chance: Sachin

A modest Sachin Tendulkar said on Thursday his 27th Test hundred in the second Test against England had come almost by chance.

Tendulkar, who revived the Indian innings with a 118-run fifth wicket stand with Vangipurappu Laxman, said: "We basically wanted to get as close as possible to the target. In trying to do that I got a hundred.

"Scoring a hundred is always a great feeling. Today it was under slightly different circumstances. We had a lost a few early wickets and they had set a big target for us."

Tendulkar, 28, struck 103 before England bowled the hosts out for 291 in reply to their first innings 407 all out to take command on the third day.

He joined Australia's Steve Waugh and Allan Border as joint third in the list of Test centurions, after compatriot Sunil Gavaskar's 34 and Australian Don Bradman's 29.

The former skipper said he was disappointed there had been no other meaningful partnerships, forcing India to concede a 116-run first innings lead and putting them under pressure to retain their 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

"It is a bit of a disappointment we made only 291. Except for my partnership with Laxman, we didn't have any big partnerships.

"Partnerships are so important in this game. Even England were 180 for five, but managed to put together a big partnership. That's where we lacked."

Tendulkar said he felt his fellow batsmen would have been better off had they shown more patience.

"Every day and every innings you are not going to get the ball where you want. Sometimes the opposition works on your patience," he said.

"At times you can allow them to get away with it. Some other times you have to take calculated risks and make them bowl somewhere else."

Tendulkar praised England left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, whose five-wicket haul triggered India's late order collapse.

"He is a very experienced campaigner. He has played a lot of seasons of cricket and is a good bowler, they are all good bowlers. He proved that today.

"Whatever has happened at Mohali is behind us. We have to leave that behind and look to the cricket ahead of us."

Tendulkar, who cut loose after lunch, said it had not been deliberate.

"Those shots I played were not pre-planned as such. I picked up the line and length early and just backed myself," he said.

Also read:
Day 3 match report | Day 3 images | Scorecard

England's tour of India : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor