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PHOTOS: Tendulkar signs off from Ranji with match-winning knock
Sachin Tendulkar came to Mumbai's rescue with a fighting half-century to help the 40-time Ranji Trophy champions overcome a spirited challenge from Haryana at Lahli, near Rohtak, on Wednesday.
- Scorecard
The veteran batsman, playing in his final Ranji Trophy match, steered the team to victory with a dogged innings of 79 on a difficult wicket at the Bansi Lal Cricket stadium.
Chasing 240 for victory, the defending champions looked in a spot of bother at 167 for five, but Tendulkar drew on all his experience to take Mumbai through. He was made to work hard for his runs against the disciplined Haryana pace attack, and the slow outfield did not help either.
- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon
The 40-year-old got his head down and showed great application during his 175-ball knock, hitting just six boundaries, in his nearly five-hour stay at the crease.
He received good support from Dhawal Kulkarni, who hung around bravely to score 16 from 72 balls, as the duo was involved in an unbroken stand of 50 from 23.3 overs.
- Share your favourite Tendulkar moment
'Thanks for all the support and love over the years'
Mumbai may have adopted a slow approach on Day 3, but the fans at the stadium enjoyed every moment of the proceedings, particularly after Tendulkar walked in to bat. Every shot from his bat was cheered, whether it was a defensive push or boundary.
- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon
At the end of it all, the Little Master thanked the people of Lahli for their encouragement through the four-day match.
"I would like to thank Haryana Cricket Association for making my stay a memorable one. I would also like to thank the security -- the police did a fantastic job. Thanks to [Haryana Cricket Association secretary] Anirudh Chaudhary for making my stay comfortable; a big thank you to the Lahli crowd, and thanks for all the support and love over the years.
"I really appreciate every bit of your support and good wishes. Thank you very much for making this match a memorable one," Tendulkar said.
'Looking forward to my last couple of Test matches'
Tendulkar will bring the curtain down on his glorious 24-year tryst with international cricket against the West Indies after playing his landmark 200th Test in Mumbai, from November 14-18.
- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon
"It will be a good series. They (West Indies) are a good side; something that I'll be looking forward to... my last couple of Test matches. I hope it produces good cricket and lives up to the expectations of all my well-wishers," the game's highest run-getter said.
'This is just the kind of outing I was looking for'
The right-hand batsman said the strip at Lahli was not ideal for batting, but he enjoyed the challenge of scoring runs on a difficult wicket.
- Farewell Sachin... write a postcard to the batting icon
"It was a challenging wicket. It had a lot for the bowlers, but it was fun to bat on this wicket. The bowlers were getting assistance from the wicket, so it was not easy to score runs," the retiring legend said, after playing the match.
"240 was a big total to chase. The outfield was also on the slower side. 240 looked like 280 to chase on this wicket. This is just the kind of outing I was looking for," he added.