Sachin makes it count

In the intriguing world of cricket statistics,150 isnt a very important number.

In the intriguing world of cricket statistics,150 isnt a very important number. With the tumultuous ovation for the 100 done,and anticipation of a double rising,the number that splits the two rarely draws more than polite applause from the stands. Such is the trivialisation of a score in the 150-200 range that it goes by the ambiguous reference of a big hundred or,worse,a missed double. While 100s,200s,and even 50s,get designated slots in statistical profiles,a 150 gets no mention. So there is little doubt that Sachin Tendulkars 160 on second day of the first Test will be remembered as his 42nd hundred rather than his 18th 150.

But anyone at the Seddon Park will tell you that the 60 runs Tendulkar scored after reaching his century has had a much deeper impact on the game than anything else.

Statistically,the teams total moved from 326/4 when Tendulkar reached the three-figure mark to 443/7 when he got out. Crucially,the lead in that period swelled from 47 to 164. While the 42nd ton had seen India occupying the bus conductors chair,with his 150 they had moved to the drivers seat.

Story continues below this ad

During his journey to reach 100,spread over two days,there were several moments of uncertainty. He took 11 balls to open his account,he was dropped on 13 and there were patches of play when the ball didnt quite hit the middle of the bat. On 99,he survived an edgy period that coincided with a Chris Martin maiden. He missed a glance down the leg side,failed to beat the in-field on the off-side and almost edged a wide ball. But a single off the next ball he faced changed things.

Even Tendulkar admitted this wasnt his best knock. Every hundred is not going to be a fluent one and youre not going to hit 100 balls out of 100 from the centre of the bat. That is what Test cricket is all about. There are days that you have to work harder. I was prepared to wait for my chance,and eventually when I found the centre of the bat consistently,I thought I was playing a different game altogether, he said.

The three-figure mark,as far as this innings went,was an imaginary line that separated the sublime from the sketchy; like hitting an expressway after a bumpy,dusty road. With the ball doing a bit in the first session ask Yuvraj Singh,who shouldered-arms to a ball that moved in to hit his off stump Tendulkars presence was the key to Indias survival. The 92 flawless deliveries after the landmark broke the Kiwi backs.

Not only did his extended stay frustrate the New Zealand pace battery,Vettori was forced to throw the ball to his wild card Jesse Ryder. Two hits to the fence saw the skipper himself coming into the attack. The effectiveness of the left-arm spinner was to decide the future course of the game,but Tendulkar negated the threat by hogging the strike. Vettori went on to bowl 13 overs unchanged: During the first three overs that he sent down,Tendulkar faced 16 deliveries. The Kiwi skipper didnt get a look at the tail,and the lead kept swelling.

Story continues below this ad

New Zealand,facing the stiff task of needing 242 runs to make India bat again,were reduced to 75 for three at stumps. Tendulkars big hundred has put the visitors firmly on the road to their first Test win here in more than three decades. For all you know,it might well be in the bag by the time you read this.