Mumbai: After bowling out West Indies for a paltry 182, India were comfortably placed at 157 for two at the end of Day One of second Test match between India and West Indies at Wankhade Stadium here on Thursday.
Master Blaster Sachin tendulkar, playing his last Test match, was in his element best as he went on to score an unbeaten 38 and looks set for a big score when the play resumes on Friday. Playing in front of his home crowd, the Little Master showed some of his genius as India took control of his 200th and final cricket Test against the West Indies after a disciplined bowling display.
It was Sachin Tedulkar's day as he walked into the stadium amid thuderous cheers from the crowd. He led the Indian team onto the field instead of the skipper and later was accorded a guard of honour by the West Indies players when he came in to bat.
He showed glimpses of his vintage form to remain unconquered at close of an eventful opening day of his last Test.
At stumps, India were comfortably placed at 157 for two after bundling out the hapless West Indies for a meagre 182 by tea, riding on left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha's five-wicket haul.
While Ojha (5/40) grabbed the spotlight in the first half of the day, it was the retiring legend, who held centrestage in the last session with his entire family and childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar watching from the stands.
It was an abysmal batting display by the West Indians after being put in by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Caribbeans lost eight wickets for just 89 runs in a single session much to the delight of the Wankhede crowd.
Kieran Powell (48) and Darren Bravo (29) were the only batsmen to put up a semblance of fight against the stifling line and length of the Indian bowlers, who utilised the conditions well.
India started well with openers Murali Vijay (43) and Shikhar Dhawan (33) putting on 77 runs for the first wicket. However, Shane Shillingford sent both the openers back to pavilion before Tendulkar and Cheteshwar Pujara (34) took control of the proceedings.
