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Sydney - Sachin Tendulkar's quest for his elusive 100th international century ended in disappointment again when he was bowled for 41 in the second Test against Australia at Sydney on Tuesday.
Test cricket's greatest run-scorer was bowled off an inside edge midway through the afternoon session, giving young Australian paceman James Pattinson his fourth wicket of the first innings.
Tendulkar has been stranded on 99 Test and one-day international centuries since scoring 111 against South Africa in the World Cup in March.
The Sydney Cricket Ground has been one of the "Little Master's" favourite Test grounds where he averaged an incredible 221.33 coming into this week's Test.
Tendulkar, 38, who has scored three of his 51 Test hundreds at the SCG, batted for 89 balls with eight fours.
But he again failed to capitalise on a solid start, following his 73 in Melbourne, amid a clatter of Indian wickets on the opening day's play.
At tea, India were in deep trouble at 178 for eight with skipper M.S. Dhoni unbeaten on 44 after Zaheer Khan was out for a first-ball duck in the over before tea.
Pattinson, 21, playing in only his fourth Test match, was the chief destroyer and had figures of four for 43 off 14 overs at tea.
Pattinson triggered the tourists' slide when he had Gautam Gambhir out on the third ball of the Test, nudging an outswinger to first slip Michael Clarke for a duck to continue his poor series.
India have now gone 10 Test innings without a half-century opening stand.
Rahul Dravid fell to a bat-pad catch to Ed Cowan in Peter Siddle's second over for five off 33 balls.
Virender Sehwag had a "life" on 23 when he was dropped by Ricky Ponting at second slip off Ben Hilfenhaus.
But Sehwag was out to another splendid Pattinson delivery, nicking to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 30 off 51 balls in the 19th over
Pattinson, bowling with beautiful shape, tempted V.V.S. Laxman to drive, only to edge to Shaun Marsh at third slip for a disappointing two after scores of two and one in Melbourne.
It was a rare batting failure for Laxman at the SCG, which statistically is his most productive scoring venue outside of India.
In five previous Test innings at the ground he has scored three hundreds and averages 96.20 and his cheap dismissal left India struggling at 59 for four.
Virat Kohli showed some promise before he fell to a catch behind off Siddle for 23 off 41 balls.
Ravi Ashwin (20) and Zaheer Khan (0) fell on consecutive balls in Hilfenhaus's last over before tea.
This is the centenary Test match at the SCG, which is only the third ground in Test cricket behind Lord's (123) in London and the Melbourne Cricket Ground (104) to stage 100 Tests.
