Cricket: Tendulkar slams world record 35th test ton

NEW DELHI - India batsman Sachin Tendulkar struck a world record 35th test hundred overnight (NZ time), surpassing his compatriot Sunil Gavaskar.

The 32-year-old batsman pushed paceman Chaminda Vaas to square leg for a single before punching the air in delight at the end of day one in the second test against Sri Lanka.

India finished the day on 245 for three after play was called off due to bad light with 14.2 overs still to be bowled.

Play was halted once Tendulkar reached the milestone.

Sri Lankan off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan had removed Rahul Dravid (24) and Vangipurappu Laxman, who made 69, in the first two sessions.

Tendulkar broke the shackles to play vintage shots against Muralitharan, experienced paceman Chaminda Vaas and leg spinner Malinga Bandara after passing his fifty.

With the umpires frequently checking the quality of light, Tendulkar spent six tense balls on 99 before scoring the single.

He turned skyward in a silent prayer for his late father Ramesh, to whom he was very close.

Tendulkar was hugged by his partner Saurav Ganguly and congratulated by the Sri lankan players with about 20,000 spectators at the Ferozeshah Kotla chanting "Sachin, Sachin" and giving him a standing ovation.

Tendulkar faced 177 balls in an effort spanning more than four-and-a-half hours. He hit 13 fours and a six.

His unbroken fourth-wicket partnership with Saurav Ganguly, 39 not out, is already worth 112 runs.

Muralitharan gave Sri Lanka the edge by removing Dravid and Laxman in the first two sessions.

Test cricket's second highest wicket-taker troubled all batsmen. He took two for 77 bowling 28 overs.

He captured Dravid to a bat-pad catch at forward short leg after the Indian captain had chosen to bat first on winning the toss and came in as makeshift opener.

Dravid promoted himself from number three after Virender Sehwag was ruled out because of fever and a throat infection.

Laxman added 77 runs for the third wicket with Tendulkar and looked his fluent best to reach his 53rd test fifty.

However, Muralitharan foxed him with a straight delivery to have him caught behind by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.

The bowler almost reduced India to 152-4 soon after, but Sangakkara missed the simplest of stumpings after Ganguly, on 11, gave the charge.

Ganguly and Tendulkar survived a few close leg before appeals against Muralitharan, but held firm until the end.

Vaas provided Sri Lanka with a superb start by trapping opening batsman Gautam Gambhir leg before for two runs with the third delivery of the innings.

He is one short of becoming the second Sri Lankan bowler to take 300 scalps after Muralitharan.

The rain-hit first match of the three-test series in Chennai ended in a draw.

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Meanwhile, England won the first one-day international against Pakistan in Lahore by 42 runs.

Scores: England 327-8 in 50 overs (Andrew Strauss 94, Andrew Flintoff 72 not out, Kevin Pietersen 56); Pakistan 285 all out in 46.5 overs (Salman Butt 67, Younis Khan 60, Mohammad Yousuf 59; Liam Plunkett 3-51, Andrew Flintoff 3-73)

- REUTERS