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Even as Sachin Tendulkar stands on the threshold of scoring a record 100th international ton, West Indies skipper Darren Sammy says his team is already mulling ways to break a few Indian hearts on Friday.
Tendulkar was unbeaten on 67 as India made a strong reply to reach 281 for three at stumps on day three of the third and final Test against the West Indies, in Mumbai, on Thursday. The visitors had piled 590 in their first innings.
"What I foresee is a full house tomorrow with the master (Sachin) on 60-70-odd. But with that we may have quite a few broken hearts tomorrow. The match is nicely poised. He is about to cross a massive landmark, a hundredth hundred. But also we have an opportunity to break a few hearts," Sammy said after the end of the day's play.
"It should be an interesting day tomorrow. Hopefully, we will stick to a line and length and be disciplined to break a few Indian hearts," he added.
Sammy said the team has worked on a plan to restrict the 38-year-old, who had at one stage raced to 38 in 57 balls.
"We have our game plan, our bowling to a field. I did my job and other bowlers did theirs. We had an opportunity to get him out (dropped by wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh on 58) but unfortunately we couldn't. Tomorrow is another day. We have our plans and we would try to go out and execute it. I do admire him a lot, but when playing against him we want to get him out," he added.
- 'Result more important than Sachin's 100th ton'
With India still trailing by 309 runs and two days left, Sammy sensed an opportunity to go for a win on a wicket that has attracted criticism for having nothing for the bowlers.
"We got three wickets, they batted well. But we came back well in the end. It could have been five down. We will comeback tomorrow and try to put a better performance, be more disciplined in our line and length and hopefully when we create chances take it."