Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test Centuries: Century 31-35

1. 109 v Sri Lanka at New Delhi, 2005

Tendulkar brings up his century against Sri Lanka at New Delhi.

The second Test of the three-match home series against Sri Lanka was a crucial one, after the first Test had been drawn. When the hosts opted to bat first in New Delhi, it was Tendulkar's clinical century that took them to a fighting total in the 1st innings.

The bowling attack of Chaminda Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Muralitharan had India on the ropes at 56 for 2 when Tendulkar came into bat.

However, along with VVS Laxman (who scored 69), he stitched together an excellent partnership and negotiated whatever was thrown at him for more than 5 hours to score 109.

He hit 14 boundaries and 1 six in his innings and in the grander scheme of things, it proved to be a vitally important innings as middle and lower order collapsed to Muralitharan. India went from 254 for 3 to 290 all out.

His 35th Test century, which helped him get pas Sir Donald Bradman's record, could not have come at a better time. Eventually, India won the game by 188 runs but the Test was a closer one than it looked and Tendulkar's innings was vital to the victory.