England crushed by Tendulkar ton

First Test, Chennai (day five, result):
India 241 & 387-4 bt England 316 & 311-9d by six wickets

By David Ornstein

Yuvraj and Sachin Tendulkar put on a match-winning partnership of 163

Sachin Tendulkar crafted his 41st Test century as India stormed to a magnificent six-wicket victory over England in the first Test in Chennai.

Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh (85) contributed an unbeaten 163 to the home side's 387-4 - the fourth highest successful run chase in Test history.

Resuming on 131-1, the hosts lost Rahul Dravid (4) to Andrew Flintoff early on.

But they could not capitalise on a wearing pitch and Tendulkar hit the winning boundary to finish 103 not out.

It was the highest successful fourth-innings run chase witnessed anywhere in Asia and also owed much to Yuvraj, who many doubted could replicate his one-day form in the Test arena.

England began day five as firm favourites but they will be left to reflect on a return of just 57 runs between lunch and tea on day four and a failure to dismiss their opponents in 98.3 overs.

Questions will be asked of captain Kevin Pietersen, who decided against bowling Steve Harmison in the morning session and James Anderson in the afternoon session.

606: DEBATE England showed they can compete, but when it came down to forcing the win it just was not there JCsRedArmy

Monty Panesar, the tourists' premier spinner, failed to turn the ball and may be criticised for a lack of variety as he returned figures of 0-105 from 27 overs.

India, who were 5-0 up on England when the seven-match one-day series was abandoned, will carry their momentum into the second Test, which starts in Mohali on Friday.

Pietersen will be especially disappointed after Flintoff had given his side the perfect start, inducing an out-of-form Dravid into edging behind in the third over.

But Tendulkar, predictably, settled in quickly and guided the hosts past 150 with a superbly-timed cut through gully off Flintoff.

Alastair Cook failed to collect a difficult chance offered by Tendulkar off Swann at silly point and Flintoff almost bowled Gautam Gambhir (66) via his inside edge with an unconventional one-armed delivery.

The batsmen were otherwise unruffled and soon negated the effect of Graeme Swann and Flintoff, which led to the introduction of Panesar and Anderson, who looked anything other than threatening initially.

Pietersen saw his side's match-winning position turn into defeat

But Anderson continued to probe outside Gambhir's off stump and his perseverance paid dividends when he angled one across the left-hander, who slashed loosely and was caught by a sprawling Paul Collingwood at gully.

It was an important breakthrough for England but they failed to maintain the pressure, allowing Tendulkar and VVS Laxman to get India's victory push back on track.

Anderson was driven beautifully by Laxman through the covers for four and then Tendulkar cut the seamer over the slips to the rope.

Laxman was in fine touch, lacing both Panesar and Flintoff through extra cover for boundaries and then the latter down the ground to the same effect.

India reached lunch on 213-3, 174 runs short of their target, and it seemed increasingly likely that they would reach it as Pietersen kept faith with Panesar.

Swann, by contrast, was turning the ball far more effectively and, when he gained some sharp bounce with his 10th ball after the re-start, Laxman presented Ian Bell with the most simple of catches at forward short leg.

Tendulkar was again on hand to steady the innings and a couple of fours off Panesar had the crowd jumping once more.

HIGHEST FOURTH INNINGS WINNING TOTALS 418-7 West Indies v Australia, Antigua 2003 406-4 India v West Indies, Trinidad 1976 404-3 Australia v England, Headingley 1948 387-4 India v England, Chennai 2008 369-6 Australia v Pakistan, Hobart 1999 362-7 Australia v West Indies, Guyana 1978

At the other end was Yuvraj provided an indication of what was to come by driving and sweeping Swann for successive fours and then clubbing Panesar over mid-on for another.

Tendulkar pushed Flintoff into the off side for a single to record his 52nd Test 50 and then nudged Swann for his 1,000th Test run in 2008.

Flintoff did his best to knock Yuvraj out of his stride during a period of verbal jousting but the batsman's levels of concentration were admirable and he swept Panesar fiercely to bring up the 50 partnership.

Yuvraj was fortunate to survive a huge leg-before appeal when replays suggested a ball from Swann that crashed into his pads was destined for middle and leg.

He responded by bludgeoning a woefully short Panesar delivery for six over mid-on and, the following over, Tendulkar slog-swept Swann for four.

At tea India were 304-4, 83 runs shy of the win, and they progressed serenely at the start of the final session.

Pietersen took the second new ball after 83 overs but neither Anderson nor Harmison proved problematic to the batsmen.

Tendulkar traded in singles and the odd boundary, while Yuvraj began illustrating his usual explosive tendencies.

With the result now inevitable, it was fitting that Tendulkar should hit the winning runs and reach three figures with a paddle around the corner for four.

• cheapest way to get fast credit repair
• free refinance car loan online
• cialis soft tabs