Tendulkar has off day and still makes 150

Sachin Tendulkar couldn't quite get it right here yesterday. He scratched around at times, struggled for timing, and in the end only just made it past 150. On a day in which the Indian cricketers surrendered a match-deciding advantage to Central Districts, the world's best batsman was left ruing his form after blasting 154 off just 120 balls at McLean Park. Life must be tough at the top. The little guy was naturally concerned to have given a hint of a chance at 14 and a straight-forward one on 69 and, despite having completely demolished the Central attack, showed little emotion when he raised his century off just 81 balls. He trudged off McLean Park at the end of his 175-minute blitzkrieg with all the joy of someone who had just been bowled for nought, acknowledging the crowd with an almost apologetic wave of his bat -- and a look of surprise that they had seemed to enjoy it.