Sachin Tendulkar has set the stage for a glittering finale. Now all he has to do is finish the job.
Pakistan's clumsy fielding almost allowed the world's greatest batsman to post his 100th international century in the semifinal on Wednesday. Instead, Tendulkar will target the milestone in Saturday's final against Sri Lanka in his hometown Mumbai.
The 37-year-old Indian opener, a sporting icon in his home country, can't have had many luckier innings than his 85 against Pakistan, which played a major role in the World Cup co-host's 29-run win over its bitter rival.
He was dropped four times, had an lbw decision overturned and survived a close stumping decision before he was finally caught by Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi at extra cover off the bowling of Saeed Ajmal.
Tendulkar was adjudged lbw to Ajmal on 23, but the Decision Review System showed the ball would have gone on to narrowly miss leg stump. He was almost out off the next delivery but just had his toe on the ground when Kamran Akmal removed the bails in a decision which also went to the TV umpire.
Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal all put down chances when Tendulkar was on 27, 45, 70 and 81.
The packed, partisan crowd of 28,000 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium briefly fell silent when Tendulkar drove straight to Afridi before rising to applaud another crucial innings.
Tendulkar, who has scored two previous centuries in the tournament, also passed 400 runs at a World Cup for the third time, joining Australians Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist in achieving the feat.
It was the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Tendulkar, who has the most runs and centuries in both test and one-day cricket. Up against him on Saturday will be leading test and one-day wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan, playing in his final match for Sri Lanka.
The ''Little Master'' reached the World Cup semifinal with India in 1996 and the final in 2003, but the trophy has remained out of reach. Saturday's setting could be no more perfect for his 100th hundred.
Given that India didn't win either match in which Tendulkar passed 100, his legions of fans might regretfully hope he falls short again.
