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Tendulkar Bags New Record as India Reaches 311-5 vs Australia
By Grant Clark
Nov. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Sachin Tendulkar claimed another batting record as he struck 109 to help lift India to 311-5 on the first day of the final cricket Test against Australia in Nagpur.
The 35-year-old, who broke the record for the most Test runs during last month's second match, passed 50 for the 91st time in his Test career today to overtake the record of 90 half- centuries set by Australia's Allan Border.
Tendulkar steadied his team after the loss of three quick wickets -- two to debutant off-spinner Jason Krejza -- as India seeks to close out the four-match series. Top-ranked Australia, which trails 1-0, is on an eight-series win streak.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who took over from the retired Anil Kumble as captain, won the toss on a grass-less wicket that may dry up and deteriorate as the match progresses, offering an advantage to the team batting first.
Opener Murali Vijay, making his debut in place of the suspended Gautam Gambhir, scored 33 in a 98-run stand for the first wicket before Shane Watson squared him up and got him to edge the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Krejza struck in the next over, removing Rahul Dravid for a duck as Simon Katich took the catch at short leg. He bowled Virender Sehwag, who'd made 66 off 69 balls, to reduce India to 116-3.
Tendulkar then combined with VVS Laxman in a century partnership to restore the home team's advantage. Laxman, playing in his 100th Test, scored 64 before edging Krejza to Haddin for the bowler's third wicket.
Tendulkar was dropped by Brett Lee as he attempted to bring up his century with a six, then was stuck on 99 for 10 balls before reaching a record-extending 40th in Tests. He'd earlier been dropped by Mitchell Johnson, who eventually trapped the batsman leg before wicket.
Former captain Sourav Ganguly -- playing in his 113th and last Test match before retiring -- is 27 not out, with Dhoni unbeaten on 4.