NEW DELHI, Dec 10: Sachin Tendulkar shattered the world record for Test centuries as India made a strong start in the second Test against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.

Tendulkar, 32, notched up his 35th ton to take India to 245-3 on the opening day at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground after the home side chose to bat.

The little master pumped his fist and raised his bat and helmet after nudging a delivery from seamer Chaminda Vaas to reach the three-figure mark and get past compatriot Sunil Gavaskar in the list of centurions.

Tendulkar, who remained unbeaten on exactly 100 when bad light stopped play, was congratulated by his partner and former captain Saurav Ganguly, who was not out on 39 at close.

The master batsman broke the long-standing record in exactly the same number of Tests (125) as Gavaskar and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Tendulkar began cautiously but opened up as the innings progressed, once hitting spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan for three consecutive fours through the off-side.

He hit a total of 13 boundaries and also a huge six off leg-spinner Malinga Bandara over the long-on fence during his 177-ball knock and was involved in an important 112-run unbroken stand for the fourth wicket with Ganguly.

Sri Lanka, who are looking for their first Test win on Indian soil, failed to capitalise on the psychological advantage of bowling out India for 167 in the drawn first Test in Chennai.

With Tendulkar stroking beautifully, Ganguly also batted purposefully in his bid to retain a place in the Test side after being ignored for recent one-dayers.

Tendulkar was also involved in a 77-run stand for the third wicket with Vangipurappu Laxman who played a strokeful 117-ball knock in which he hit 12 boundaries.

Laxman looked set for a big knock but was foxed by an away-going delivery from Muralitharan which he edged to Sangakkara.

The stylish batsman was quick to punish anything loose and got to his 23rd half-century when he sent a full toss from leg-spinner Malinga Bandara to the mid-wicket fence.

Earlier, Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan bagged a wicket each in the opening session.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings):

G. Gambhir lbw b Vaas 2

R. Dravid c Mubarak b M’tharan 24

V.V.S. Laxman c Sangakkara b M’tharan 69

S.R. Tendulkar not out 100

S.C. Ganguly not out 39

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-7) 11

TOTAL (for three wkts, 75.4 overs) 245

Fall of wkts: 1-2 2-56 3-133

TO BAT: Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, A.B. Agarkar, A. Kumble, Harbhajan Singh.

BOWLING: Vaas 20.4-4-77-1; Fernando 18-5-43-0; Muralitharan 28-6-77-2; Bandara 8-0-33-0; Dilshan 1-0-4-0.

UMPIRES: S.J.A. Taufel (Australia) and Nadeem Ghauri (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: A.V. Jayaprakash (India).

MATCH REFEREE: C.H. Lloyd (West Indies).—Agencies

Leading Test century-makers