Gaji
Sachin Tendulkar fell agonizingly short of his 100th international century on Monday, leave-taking cricket fans dissatisfied all across the globe.
Tendulkar's luck appear to be in after he enjoyed several reprieve on his way to 91 on day five at The Oval, but Tim Bresnan attentive the 'Little Master' first ball after recurring to the attack after lunch.
Tendulkar departed one over after Amit Mishra (84), who was clean bowled by Graeme Swann after the India pair, put on 144 for the fourth wicket and in danger to halt England's victory charge.
The double get through left the tourists on 262 for five following on, only 29 runs short of making England bat again but, critically, with only five wickets in hand. The decision by Rod Tucker to send away Tendulkar lbw was a brave one, with Hawk-Eye showing the ball would only just have abrupt the top of leg stump.
Tendulkar turned to the umpire in apparent incredulity before trudge off following what could be his final Test innings in England.
In reality, he was lucky even to make 90, with England having unsuccessful to appeal for a stumping last night, as well as dropping him twice today.
He also survives one good lbw appeal and another that was too close to call. England was therefore backing in the kind of position in which they began the day, well on top and heading for a series whitewash.
A sell-out crowd had assembled at the The Oval, both for the chance to pay homage to Tendulkar and witness the home side's coronation as the world's number one team.
They seem set to get value for their money on both counts too, because England will receive their International Cricket Council mace as current world-beaters whatever the outcome today - while Tendulkar compile by far his highest score of the series.
The 38-year-old passed his second 50 of the summer in 74 balls, and Mishra followed to the next of his career from 103. The nightwatchman was strike a painful early blow on the left thigh by James Anderson, and necessary on-field treatment for several minutes.
But he was otherwise peaceful by everything the England attack could muster before lunch, arresting six fours to Tendulkar's seven in their own half-centuries.
After Sunday's stump slip-up, Swann had a second piece of bad luck against Tendulkar just before the interval, when Alastair Cook drop a bat-pad catch at short-leg to stay of execution him again on 70.
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