Sachin closes in on 100th century

Sachin Tendulkar stayed on course for an unprecedented 100th international century as India made a strong reply on the third day of the third and final Test against the West Indies on Thursday. The master batsman was unbeaten on 67 while Rahul Dravid (82) completed 13,000 Test runs as India reached 281-3 in their first innings at stumps in reply to the West Indies’ 590 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Tendulkar has so far added 57 for the unfinished fourth-wicket stand with Venkatsai Laxman (32 not out) with India now needing 110 more runs to avoid the follow-on with seven wickets in hand. Tendulkar’s 133-ball knock included an uppercut for six off paceman Fidel Edwards. He played handsomely, delighting the nearly 20,000 spectators in the 32,000-capacity stadium. But he was lucky to survive on 58 when wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh dropped a difficult chance off leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.