Mohali, October 17

Sachin Tendulkar created history as India thwarted a spirited fightback from Australia to reach 311-5 on the opening day of the second Test here on Friday.

Tendulkar, 35, surpassed West Indian Brian Lara’s tally of 11,953 runs to become the highest run-getter in Test cricket and overshadow everything else that happened on the field.

Ganguly, batting on 54 at close with four fours, also achieved a personal milestone when he reached 39, becoming the fourth Indian to score 7,000 runs behind Sunil Gavaskar, Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

The 142-run stand between Tendulkar and Ganguly lifted the Indians, who were placed at a shaky 174-4 after Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson (3-68) picked two key wickets in the post-lunch session.

The 26-year-old left-arm quick sent back opener Gautam Gambhir (67) and the stylish Venkatsai Laxman (12) after having got rid of the dangerous Virender Sehwag (35) in the opening session of the match.

But it was paceman Brett Lee (1-56) who gave his team the much-needed breakthrough by breaking the 76-run second-wicket stand between Gambhir and Dravid (39). It was the 291st wicket for Lee, who becomes the fourth highest Australian wicket-taker ever.

Earlier, Sehwag and Gambhir belted a wayward Australian attack after Mahendra Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat in the absence of captain Anil Kumble, who pulled out in the morning due to shoulder injury. Australia awarded a Test cap to Siddle after paceman Stuart Clark was ruled unfit for the match. India blooded leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who featured in three one-day internationals for India way back in 2003.