Mumbai: Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma came up with scintillating tons while Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, probably batting for the one last time, scored a convincing 74 to put India in total control against the West Indies as the hosts made 495, taking a 313-run first innings lead at Wankhade Stadium here on Friday.
Sachin Tendulkar enthralled the crowd with a majestic 74 in his farewell knock, as millions of his adoring fans waited for a last magical knock from his blade. Starting his day at 38, the Little Master seemed to be in a positive frame of mind as he played an array of breathtaking shots much to the delight of a packed Wankhede stadium. However, he fell short of the three-figure mark by 26 runs.
However, India rode on Rohit Sharma's (111 unbeaten) second consecutive century and Chteshwar Pujara's 113 to pile up an imposing 495 in reply to West Indies first innings total of 182.
Spinner Shane Shillingford was the pick of te West Indies bowlers, picking up 5/179 after toiling for 43 overs. Narsingh Deonarine chipped in with two wickets.
At stumps, West Indies were struggling at 43 for three in their second innings, still trailing by 270 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, Tendulkar hogged the limelight for the second day running with a sublime knock which included some of his trademark shots, which got rousing cheers from the crowd and a host of VVIPs including Congress vice-President Rahul Gandhi, state chief minister Prithviraj Chavan and Bollywood superstars Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
Silence descended at the Wankhede when Tendulkar was dfimissed when he thick-edged a Deonarine delivery to Darren Sammy at first slip. The crowd quickly recomposed itself to give Tendulkar a standing ovation as he trudged off the ground one last time.
