Sachin Tendulkar the batting maestro hit his 48th century.

Sachin Tendulkar hit his 48th Test century and Virender Sehwag made 99 to boost India's hopes of avoiding defeat in the second Test against Sri Lanka ,on this third day of the second test against Sri Lanka in Colombo today on July 28, 2010 .India, chasing 642-4 declared, began well until Sehwag fell to Suraj Randiv, just one run shy of a 21st Test ton.

Murali Vijay (58) and Rahul Dravid (3) were both out in quick succession. But Tendulkar's classy 108 not out in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 141 with debutant Suresh Raina (66no) helped India to 382-4 by close of play.

Tendulkar, who holds the record of scoring highest number of centuries, played brilliant cricket with Suresh Raina to dominate the day. Sachin also equalled the former Australian captain Steve Waugh’s Test record to have played the most number of matches (168).

India resumed on 95-0 needing a further 338 runs to avoid the follow-on after the Sri Lankans dominant batting on the first two days in Colombo.

They were looking steady with Sehwag beginning in aggressive fashion, ably supported by Vijay.But he attempted to bring up his century with a blazing shot and was beaten by the flight and stumped by Prasanna Jayawardene as Randiv claimed his first Test wicket with hisfirst ball of the day.

Ajantha Mendis then stepped up to the plate to deal India a further blow, trapping Vijay plumb lbw for 58.And Randiv continued a dream debut with another big scalp as Dravid failed to negotiate a quicker delivery and was trapped leg before.

Tendulkar and VVS Laxman were relatively fresh at the crease at the start of the afternoon session and they steered India past 200, although Tendulkar was fortunate to survive when Prasanna Jayawardene dropped a relatively simple chance.

Sri Lanka piled on the pressure and were rewarded when Mendis trapped Laxman leg before for 29 just 10 minutes before tea, but Tendulkar and Raina negotiated the entirety of the evening session to leave the tourists 61 short of the follow-on target.

Tendulkar and Laxman almost batted through the second session but Ajantha Mendis brokethe slow 68-run stand by trapping the stylish Hyderabadi 10 minutes before tea break.Laxman finally got out as he failed to read a Mendis googly and was caught in front of the wicket.

Sachin Tendulkar has made it once again. He has acted as the root of Indian Cricket Team.Today when India was in need of a big innings by one of its player then it was Master Blasterwho understood the need of the time and came forward hitting 48th Century. SachinTendulkar is really like a boon to Indian Cricket and it is because of him only that IndianCricket has reached the Top Level in this decade. Sachin has hit his 48th Century today andhence is very near to make Half-Century of Centuries and also has the Record to hit themaximum number of Centuries in both .Test and One-day International. He make us feelproud at International Level Cricket.