SACHIN Tendulkar stroked his way to a majestic 42nd Test century as he led India to a 105-run lead at lunch on day on day three of the first Test against New Zealand in Hamilton today.
India were 384-5 with Tendulkar not out 135 and Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 22 in reply to New Zealand's 279.
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Tendulkar extended his record for the most Test centuries as India took a firm grip on the Test.
They started the day one-run behind New Zealand and cracked 106 runs in the opening session for the loss of only one wicket.
Tendulkar used every shot in his armoury, driving off the front and back foot, and cutting anything short to the boundary.
He reached his 100 milestone from 168 deliveries in 259 minutes, picking a loose delivery from James Franklin on the off and turning it to square leg for a single.
The “little master” had raced into the 90s from his overnight 70, cracking a rapid 20 in the opening four overs of the day including four boundaries from the first 11 balls he faced.
Chris Martin and Iain O'Brien were able to recover their line in the carnage to produce a series of maidens and Tendulkar spent seven overs in the 90s and faced a maiden over from Martin on 99.
But just when it appeared the bowlers were starting to regain control, Martin was replaced by Franklin and Tendulkar put the hammer down again.
The decision to pull Martin out of the attack appeared to be part of a plan to manage the workload of the New Zealand fast bowlers who have been largely limited to six-over spells regardless of the game situation.
Martin, who went for 20 in his first two overs of the morning, has the figures of three for 75 off 26 overs.
He claimed the only wicket of the morning when he went around the wicket and brought a ball back on Yuvraj Singh, who did not commit to a shot and was bowled.
India were then five for 314 and Dhoni and Tendulkar have since added 70 in 25.2 overs.
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