Tendulkar's 15,000th Run Puts India In Good Position

Tendulkar's 15,000th Run Puts India In Good Position

Sachin Tendulkar extended his record haul of Test runs to 15,000 as the West Indies struggled on day three

©REUTERS / Action Images

Tendulkar's 15,000th Run Puts India In Good Position

Ravi Ashwin (facing camera) took six wickets in the West Indian second innings

©REUTERS / Action Images

West Indies 304 & 180 (Chanderpaul 47, Ashwin 6-47) v
India 209 & 152-2 (Sehwag 55)
First Test, Delhi, day three
Scorecard | Day One | Day Two

Sachin Tendulkar became the first man to score 15,000 Test runs as India turned the opening Test against the West Indies on its head on day three in Delhi.

Debutant off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned six for 47 as the West Indies were shot out for 180 in their second innings and chasing 276 to win, India closed on a solid 152 for two with Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar both unbeaten at stumps.

Tendulkar excited the crowd when he reached run number 15,000 as he made his way to 33 not out in 87 balls with a chanceless knock.

Dravid was equally solid at the other end, the only nervy moment for him coming when Carlton Baugh directed a throw onto the stumps via his pads with Dravid being given the benefit of the doubt after failing to ground his bat, and he went on to score 30 from 91.

India's run chase got off to an excellent start as Gautam Gambhir (22) and Virender Sehwag (55) put on 51 for the opening wicket before Gambhir was trapped in front by Marlon Samuels to a ball that looked like it might just have been sliding down leg.

Sehwag crashed five fours and two sixes but fell shortly after reaching his 27th half-century when he was bowled by Darren Sammy.

That was as good as it got for the West Indies, who after performing brightly on the opening two days, endured their most difficult day to date.

They came up short against Ashwin's wiles and his haul of six for 47 hand him the second best match haul by an Indian on debut as the middle order failed to deal with him.

First of all though, Ishant Sharma broke through to have nightwatchman Fidel Edwards caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni for one and Umesh Yadav had Kirk Edwards (33) bowled before Ashwin got to work.

Darren Bravo (12) was trapped in front and Samuels (1) was bowled by a carrom ball but after Yadav had Baugh caught by Dhoni for seven, the West Indies countered, Shivnarine Chanderpaul backing up his first-innings century with 47 and Sammy playing some thumping shots down the ground in carving 42 in 37 balls.

Ashwin eventually won the battle when Chanderpaul was trapped in front and Sammy was bowled with another carrom ball that kept a little low.

Ravi Rampaul (18) and Devendra Bishoo (9 not out) then added 23 for the final wicket to briefly frustrate India before Ashwin had Rampaul caught by Pragyan Ojha.

India's batsmen, who were found wanting in the first innings when they made 209 in reply to 304, then stepped up as they began a confident pursuit of what would be the equal highest successful run chase at the ground.

© Cricket World 2011