Tendulkar and Yuvraj Lead India to Stunning Victory Over England

An unbeaten partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh took India to a remarkable six-wicket victory in the first Test against England at Chennai today.

The hosts successfully chased a victory target of 387, the highest ever to win a Test in India and the fourth biggest fourth innings total in history, to go one-nil up in a series already charged with emotion following the Mumbai attacks and leave England crestfallen after carving out a winning position for themselves over the previous four days.

Resuming this morning at 131 for one ,Tendulkar used his vast experience and composure to guide India through a tense first two sessions before teaming up with Yuvraj to guide India to victory at a canter.

He was brought to the crease in only the third over of the day when India lost the out of sorts former captain Rahul Dravid to Andrew Flintoff. Dravid had added just two runs to his overnight score of two when he pushed forward outside off-stump and edged behind to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

Tendulkar survived a testing introduction from Flintoff before he demonstrated his class by cutting the first of five boundaries in his half-century.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, who resumed overnight on 41, reached his half-century in the sixth over of the day before James Anderson ended his 42-run stand with Tendulkar, finally tempting Gambhir into a loose shot outside off-stump that was brilliantly caught by a diving Paul Collingwood in the gully.

VVS Laxman comfortably survived the remaining nine overs of the session before fending off-spinner Graeme Swann to the on-side just four overs after lunch to Ian Bell at short leg, who snaffled the catch.

England increased their aggression when Yuvraj arrived at the crease with captain Kevin Pietersen introducing Steve Harmison to the attack for the first time in the 34th over of the day.

Harmison reacted by throwing the ball back aggressively at Yuvraj, who had not moved out of his crease, in his second over. The Durham bowler did not apologise, while both Flintoff and Pietersen attempted to goad the Indian batsman into a mistake with constant chatter.

But instead of wilting under the war of words, Yuvraj responded with characteristic confidence and aggression, and the tone was set for India's two icons old and new to steer India to a stunning triumph, capped by Tendulkar registering a famous century.