MUMBAI (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar fell agonisingly short of recording his 100th international century once again Friday as India lost three wickets on the fourth morning of the third test against West Indies, but remained on course to avoid the follow-on.
Leading the three-match series 2-0, India went to the lunch interval at Wankhede Stadium on 376 for six, needing 15 more runs to avoid being asked to bat again, but the mood was flat in Mumbai after Tendulkar's latest near miss.
The master batsman, unbeaten on 67 overnight, hit three boundaries and a six in the session and looked set to secure the coveted century that has eluded him since he last reached three figures against South Africa during the World Cup in March.
With the whole of India celebrating every run as he closed on the landmark, Tendulkar's innings came to a abrupt end on 94 when he edged paceman Ravi Rampaul to West Indies captain Darren Sammy at second slip, silencing the sizeable crowd gathered to witness the historic moment at the 38-year-old's home ground.
Virat Kohli (33) and Ravichandran Ashwin (26) were at the crease for India at the interval as the hosts continued to eat into West Indies' first innings total of 590.
Kohli and Ashwin stood firm and added 45 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket after India were reduced to 331-6 and needed a solid partnership in the wake of Tendulkar's shock departure.
India had resumed on 281-3 and Sammy was rewarded for taking the second new ball immediately when Vangipurappu Laxman (32) fell to the first ball of the day's second over.
Laxman (32) was dismissed when he drove the first ball he had faced, bowled by paceman Fidel Edwards, straight to Marlon Samuels at gully after he and Tendulkar had added 63 runs for the fourth wicket.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni did not last long either, clean bowled by Sammy for eight to expose the home team's tail.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
