India cricket legend falls short of a fairytale hundred.
Sometimes sport does not come through with the ending fans hope for.
Sachin Tendulkar was dismissed for 74 in India’s first innings against the West Indies during the second Test at Mumbai, possibly the last time he will be seen on a cricket field – bat in hand.
The man of the moment resumed his solid first day’s innings and continued to play in a positive manner, as he crept towards what would have been one of the magical moments in world sport.
But with just 26 runs to go to his milestone, Tendulkar, facing the bowling of Narsingh Deonarine, played a cut shot too close to his body and only ended up hitting a thick edge to Darren Sammy at first slip.
At first the capacity crowd, and no doubt hundreds of millions of cricket fans around the world, held their breath, unsure of what they had just seen.
But when it became clear that the ‘Little Master’ had to go, the silence was quickly replaced by a massive applause as an outpouring of affection came from those at the ground for the man that had entertained them for the past 24 years.
While his innings fell short of what some had hoped, it was still a sign that despite being a veteran of the game, the skills that made him a household name were still there.
The home side continued to build a solid first innings lead after the West Indies were bundled out for just 182 in their first dig, however, non India fan would complain if their middle-order and tail collapsed.
Just so they can see their hero bat one last time.
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