Mumbai, Nov 25: Day 4 of the final Test match between India and West Indies was an eventful one with the visitors ending the day with a 189-run lead. Sachin Tendulkar missed out on a landmark century after getting agonisingly close, R Ashwin slammed his first ever century while Pragyan Ojha threatened to derail the West Indies second innings with a couple of quick wickets.

The morning session was all about whether Tendulkar, batting overnight on 67, would get to his 100th ton. After VVS Laxman (32) was caught at gully off the first delivery he faced from Fidel Edwards, Tendulkar played a lovely straight drive, a cut shot and an audacious upper cut to race to 94. However, Ravi Rampaul ended the buzz surrounding Sachin’s landmark ton when he had the batsman caught at second slip in the seventh over of the day. India were on 322 for five at this stage, needing another 69 runs to avoid the follow-on.

MS Dhoni’s (8) dismissal at the hands of opposition captain Darren Sammy 28 deliveries later made the follow-on a distinct possibility.

But Virat Kohli and R Ashwin staged a comeback. Playing his first innings in the series, Kohli hit a well composed half-century and put on a 97-run partnership with Ashwin that took India past the follow-on mark of 390. Ashwin then provided the many Indian fans who had come to the Wankhede stadium in anticipation of Tendulkar’s milestone the pleasure of watching a spirited century from a No. 8 batsman.

Batting with the Indian tail after the fall of Kohli’s wicket at 428, Ashwin hit 15 boundaries and two big sixes to bring up his first Test century just before tea. India were eventually bowled out for 482, 108 runs short of the West Indies first innings score, with Marlon Samuels ending as the most successful bowler with figures of three for 74.

The third session of the day began with Pragyan Ojha putting the visitors under pressure with the wickets of Adrian Barath (3) and Kirk Edwards (17) within the first hour. India might have had another wicket just before the close of play; Virat Kohli dropped Darren Bravo in the last over off Sachin Tendulkar’s bowling. The visitors ended Day 4 on 81 for two, with a comfortable lead of 189 runs and Kraigg Brathwaite (34*) and Bravo (27*) looking to extend that lead even further on the final day.

Brief scores:

At end of Day 3: West Indies 1st innings 590 all out in 181.0 overs (Darren Bravo 166, R Ashwin 5/156) and West Indies 2nd innings 81/2 in 34.0 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 34*, Pragyan Ojha 2/27); India 1st innings 482 all out in 135.4 overs (R Ashwin 103, Sachin Tendulkar 94, Marlon Samuels 3/74)

At end of Day 3: West Indies 1st innings 590 all out in 181.0 overs (Darren Bravo 166, Kirk Edwards 86, R Ashwin 5/156); India 1st innings 281/3 in 80.0 overs (Rahul Dravid 82, Sachin Tendulkar 67*, Ravi Rampaul 1/42)

At end of Day 2: West Indies 1st innings 575/9 in 184.1 overs (Darren Bravo 166, Kirk Edwards 86, R Ashwin 4/154)

At end of Day 1: West Indies 1st innings 267/2 in 91.0 overs (Kraigg Brathwaite 68, Kirk Edwards 65*, R Ashwin 2/86)