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Tendulkar holds the torch for Bombay

Riz Ahmed

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar's brilliant unbeaten double century -- his first in the Ranji Trophy and the third of his career -- kept Bombay on course for a first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji trophy semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Bombay.

An exciting first session is on the cards on the morrow as the hosts were still 15 runs short of Tamil Nadu's first innings aggregate at 470 for 8 at draw of stumps on Thursday, the third day of the five-day tie.

Taking strike on Friday will be Tendulkar on a majestic 213 (313b, 19x4, 4x6). At the other end will be Abey Kuruvilla, who frustrated the Tamil Nadu attack for 26 minutes, surviving the tense closing moments of the day.

Tendulkar, knowing fully well that Bombay's fate hinged on him, took complete charge of the proceedings today. There is nothing any bowler in the world can do when Tendulkar decides he wants to stay at the crease.

Tendulkar reached his century with a breathtaking cover drive (170b, 13x4) and his double century with a huge six off Aashish Kapoor (304b, 18x4, 4x6).

He put on 139 runs for the fifth wicket with school chum Vinod Kambli (75, 107b, 11x4, 1x6) and 125 runs for the sixth wicket with Amol Muzumdar (47, 105b, 7x4).

Bombay, however, would have been in the doldrums had Tendulkar not had a lucky escape in only the third over of the day when he was on 42 and Bombay 149. The champion batsman slashed at a widish delivery from S Mahesh and the ball flew off the edge, chest-high, to Madan Gopal at second slip who grassed it. The lapse cost the visitors dear. It has probably cost them a place in the final.

SCOREBOARD
Tamil Nadu (1st innings) 485
Bombay (1st innings; overnight 141 for 4):
Samir Dighe c Paul b Mahesh 55
Wasim Jaffer c Ramesh b Kapoor 12
Jatin Paranjpe c Kapoor b Kumaran 15
Sachin Tendulkar batting 213
Rajesh Pawar c Madan Gopal b Kapoor 1
Vinod Kambli c&b Mahesh 75
Amol Muzumdar c Robin Singh b S Sriram 47
Ramesh Powar c Sriram b Mahesh 13
Ajit Agarkar c Madan Gopal b A Kapoor 13
A Kuruvilla batting 0
Extras (b-9, lb-7, nb-10) 26
Total (for 8 wickets, 147 overs) 470
Fall of wickets: 1-41 (W Jaffer), 2-77 (J Paranjpe), 3-120 (S Dighe), 4-127 (R Pawar), 5-266 (V Kambli), 6-391 (A Muzumdar), 7-412 (R Powar), 8-449 (Ajit Agarkar)
Bowling: T Kumaran 23-7-76-1 (2nb); S Mahesh 25-2-97-3; D J Gokulakrishnan 21-7-72-0; A Kapoor 29-6-93-3 (6nb); Robin Singh 27-9-48-0 (2nb); S Sriram 22-2-68-1

Day 2