MUMBAI, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- India's master cricketer Sachin Tendulkar Friday was stopped just six runs short of creating history by scoring his 100th international century.
Millions of cricketing fans in India and elsewhere saw fast bowler Ravi Rampaul tempt Tendulkar, batting at 94 runs, to give a catch to captain Darren Sammy at the slip in the third test match between India and the West Indies in Mumbai.
Six more runs, and Tendulkar, already holding 99 centuries to his credit, would have become the world's first batsmen to score 100 centuries.
Rampaul's brilliant delivery left the packed Mumbai's Wankhede stadium crowd in "deathly silence," the Press Trust of India news agency reported. Mumbai is Tendulkar's home turf, starting his cricketing career there at age 14.
There was much hope Tendulkar would get his 100th ton when the morning proceedings began on the fourth day of the five-day test, with India chasing West Indies' mammoth first innings total of 590 runs.
Tendulkar appeared comfortable at the crease as he piled on runs from his overnight account of 67. He flogged the West Indies bowlers and reached 90 with a six off Fidel Edwards, lobbing the ball over the third man.
But then came Rampaul to end the dreams.
Tendulkar's 99th was scored on March 12 during a World Cup group league match against South Africa. Ever since, fans in India, where cricket is a national passion, have been waiting for his 100th.
Tendulkar, even though stuck at 99, is still far ahead of those next in line, with Australia's Ricky Ponting at the No. 2 spot with a distant 69 centuries, followed by South Africa's Jacques Kallis with 57.
