Sachin Tendulkar led the Indian run chase to take India to a famous victory on the decisive day of the first Test against England. The master batsman clobbered his 41st Test hundred as India won by six wickets. The second hero on the tense day was Yuvraj Singh who proved his Test credentials with an unbeaten 85 while Tendulkar remained unconquered on 103.
Chasing a daunting 387-run target, India lost only three wickets on the day as they scripted the fourth highest successful run chase in history of Test cricket. The final two sessions of play saw India dominate proceedings with Tendulkar and Yuvraj batting with authority to swing the match completely in India's favour shortly after tea.
India, who started the second session on a poor note losing VVS Laxman, made 91 runs after lunch without any further damage and in the post tea session, the willows of Yuvraj and Tendulkar flourished in grand style to author India's highest run chase in the sub-continent.
Tendulkar was a picture of poise as he batted with effortless ease on a slow turning track, plundering nine boundaries in his unbeaten innings. He authored the chase, playing the sheet anchor to perfection and building vital stands with of 42 Gautam Gambhir, of 41 with Laxman (41) and finally an unbroken 162 one with Yuvraj. And in a fitting finish, a nudge down the leg side took Tendulkar to his century and India home.
India suffered a big blow after lunch when Graeme Swann had VVS Laxman caught at short midwicket for 26. England at that stage had India under pressure at 224-4 but Yuvraj ignored both the nerves and the words that came his way from Andrew Flintoff to punch a determined knock that included a huge six off Monty Panesar.
He batted with caution, showing the temperament that was amiss in several of his previous Test outings. But once he settled down, the southpaw displayed the spectacular strokeplay he is capable of. His 84 came off only 131 balls that saw him hammer eight boundaries and one six.
India started the day at 131-1, needing 256 to win on the final day at the MA Chidambaram stadium with Gautam Gammbhir and Rahul Dravid in the middle. But England got the perfect start with Andrew Flintoff removing Dravid, who could add only a couple to his overnight score of two. Dravid, who has been in dismal form throughout 2008, edged an outgoing delivery and Matt Prior made no mistake behind the stumps.
Gambhir reached his half-century soon after Dravid's dismissal but he once again fell to a poor shot. He poked at a wide delivery from James Anderson and Paul Collingwood leaped to his right to take a neat catch. The southpaw made 66 with seven boundaries to his name.
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