Sachin Tendulkar becomes the highest run-scorer in the fourth innings of Tests

Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar keeps scoring runs at a pace wherein it looks like the record books are running out of pages listing the ones created by the master blaster.

The ‘run machine’ has not yet reached the much-awaited milestone of 100 international centuries, a territory no other cricketer has not yet conquered. But he treated the spectators with yet another feather on his cap by becoming the highest run-getter in fourth innings of Test matches. He went past Rahul Dravid's tally of 1507 runs during the first Test against West Indies recently at an average of 39.86.

The wait for the 100th century stretches back to the World Cup in April, but Sachin fell short of the feat once again by making 76 in the second innings of the Kotla Test. Meanwhile, he completed 15000 runs in Test cricket.

Sachin has scored 51 centuries in Tests and 48 in one-dayers.

Also, he created a record for aggregating most runs in the fourth innings in Tests at an average of 39.86, going past Rahul Dravid's tally of 1507 runs during the first Test against West Indies recently.

Other active members on the list include Rahul Dravid, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith. Tendulkar also became the highest run-getter at the Feroz Shah Kotla, going past Dilip Vengsarkar.

Sachin Tendulkar hits 15,000 Test runs

Sachin Tendulkar of India on Tuesday became the first batsman in history to score 15,000 Test runs.

Tendulkar, 38, achieved the feat when he reached 28 on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in New Delhi.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 33 and Rahul Dravid was on 30 as India - set a victory target of 276 - reached 152-2 by stumps.

The Mumbai batsman, playing his 182nd Test match, already holds the world record for most runs and centuries in both Test and one-day cricket.

Tendulkar needs one more three-figure knock to become the first batsman to score 100 international hundreds. He has 51 Test and 48 one-day centuries so far.

Dravid is second in the Test scorers list with 12,859 runs, ahead of Ricky Ponting of Australia (12,487) and West Indian Brian Lara (11,953).

Top run-getters in Test cricket (minimum 10,000 runs)

1. 15,005 - Sachin Tendulkar (IND)

2. 12,859 - Rahul Dravid (IND)

3. 12,487 - Ricky Ponting (AUS)

4. 11,953 - Brian Lara (WIS)

5. 11,947 - Jacques Kallis (RSA)

6. 11,174 - Allan Border (AUS)

7. 10,927 - Steve Waugh (AUS)

8. 10,122 - Sunil Gavaskar (IND)

Tendulkar, Dravid share world record 100-plus partnership

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid shared a world record 17th 100-plus partnership as India reached a formidable 301 for two at tea on the second day of the second cricket Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Monday.

At the break, Tendulkar and Dravid were batting on 89 and 79 respectively as India took a first innings 68-run lead over the home team on a flat Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium pitch which though saw a few balls keeping low.

The Indian duo's 100-plus partnership came after the drinks break in the post-lunch session when Tendulkar also reached his 55th Test fifty in his 164th match, driving past extra cover for a four.

Tendulkar and Dravid's 100-run partnership for the third wicket came in 25.3 overs and included 10 boundaries. The Indian pair now has 17 100-plus partnerships. They went past Australians Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting and the West Indian pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes who have 16 such stands.

With the two senior-most Indian batsmen holding forth, the Bangladesh bowlers had to toil hard without any success in the 31 overs they bowled in the post-lunch session which saw the visitors adding 124 runs.

India had added 108 runs from the 25 overs they faced in the morning.

Tendulkar and Dravid cut off any risk and rotated strike by taking mostly singles though they opened up towards the tea break with Tendulkar hitting two consecutive fours off Mahmdaullah Riyad and Mohammad Ashraful.

Tendulkar crosses 13,000 Test runs

Sachin Tendulkar quietly reached yet another milestone when he became the first batsman to score 13,000 Test runs here today.

The highest run accumulator in both the Test and ODI versions of the game went into the first Test needing 30 runs to reach the milestone. Batting on 28, Tendulkar pulled Mahmudullah in the 36th over and the ball raced to the rope to bring up his 13000 runs in Tests in the 36th over.

The batsman acknowledged the applause from the sporting crowd of the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium. In the dressing room, coach Gary Kirsten was also seen clapping.

As if to celebrate the feat, Tendulkar drove the next ball through covers for another four.

Tendulkar’s wait for the feat could have been longer had Imrul Kayes been able to hold on to the catch he nearly took in the slip off Shafiul Islam when the batsman was on 16.

The clanger allowed Tendulkar to amble towards his 55th Test fifty as he stood tall amid ruins, remaining unbeaten after a 140-ball 76.

Tendulkar went into the match having amassed 12,970 runs from 162 Tests at an average of 54.72 with the help of 43 centuries and 54 half centuries.

His record is equally impressive in ODIs with the batting great piling up a record 17,394 runs from 440 one-dayers, averaging 44.71 and including 45 centuries and 93 half centuries.