Sachin’s fight goes on as India reach 182-4

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MOHALI: Sachin Tendulkar was still at the crease with 76 not out as India reached 182 for four in 35 overs against Pakistan in the second semi-final of the World Cup here at the Punjab Cricket Association ground on Wednesday.

However, Tendulkar got two lives before completing his 94th one-day international half-century from 67 balls.

He was dropped first by Misbah-ul-Haq and later by Younis Khan.

The batsmen out so far were Virender Sehwag (38), Gautam Gambhir (27), Virat Kohli (9) and Yuvraj Singh nought).

Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings against pacers Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq in aggressive style after India captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first on a flat picth. .

The openers made 48 in 5.5 overs as Sehwag blasted 38 off 25 balls. He smashed nine fours, five in an over from Gul.

Then, captain Shahid Afridi brought in left-arm seamer Wahab Riaz who got rid off the dangerman, getting him out lbw.

Later, Tendulkar along with Gautam Gambhir added 68 for the second wicket before off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez got Gambhir out stumped by Kamran Akmal for 27.

India received serious blow when they reached 141 as Wahab Riaz struck twice in an over dismissing Kohli caught by Umar Akmal and then bowling out the in-form batsman Yuvraj Singh for first ball duck but Dhoni succeeded in avoiding hat-trick.

Dhoni was batting at 15 and with Tendulkar added 41 for the unbeaten fifth wicket partnership.