AP
Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar reacts after becoming Test crickets highest run-scorer on the first day of the second Test between India and Australia, in Mohali, India, yesterday. Tendulkar surpassed retired West Indies batsman Brian Lara's record.

MOHALI, India (AP):

Sachin Tendulkar achieved the world record for most runs in Test cricket yesterday and his 50th half century pushed India to a commanding 311 for five wickets at stumps on the first day of the second Test.

Tendulkar started the innings needing 15 to overtake former West Indies captain Brian Lara's tally of 11,953 and he did it with a glide to third man from the first ball after tea. His upbeat 88 from 111 balls moved him to 12,027 runs at an average of 54.17.

India started the final session chasing a strong partnership after Australia hit back with 3-17 during the middle session to reduce the hosts to 163-4 before tea.

Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly made sure there were no more problems by combining in a 142-run stand that confirmed the home sides dominance in good batting conditions.

Pleased with the knock

"I'm quite pleased with the knock," Tendulkar said. "When I went in, we'd lost three wickets in no time, so it was extremely important to have a partnership".

Tendulkar, who produced some strong on-drives, punched 10 boundaries and brought up his half century from 80 balls then set his sights on a 40th century.

Two fours off Peter Siddles offerings with the second new ball took Tendulkar closer to the milestone, but his edge to Matthew Hayden at first slip gave the rookie Australian paceman his maiden wicket.

"I was disappointed because we had targets and we thought, especially after those crackers went off (when he got the world record), wed have to focus on our game and continue batting for a long time," Tendulkar said. The reverse swing with the old ball was different to the new ball and it took me a fraction longer to adjust. I paid a heavy price for that.

Four boundaries

Ganguly was more patient than Tendulkar, reaching his 35th half century in 100 balls and hitting four boundaries in his unbeaten 54.

Australia had a moment of misfortune when umpire Rudi Koertzen failed to call for the TV umpire when Ganguly was stumped on 35 off the bowling of Cameron White.

Ganguly passed 7,000 runs when he square-drove Johnson for two and moved to 40.

On a day of milestones, Brett Lee became Australias fourth most successful bowler when he removed Rahul Dravid and collected his 292nd Test wicket.

Dravid, who picked off seven boundaries in his 39, was looking extremely comfortable until he underedged Lee and the ball crashed into leg stump. Two deliveries later, opener Gambhir edged Mitchell Johnsons leg-cutter to end his bright knock of 67 from 140 balls. When V.V.S. Laxman glanced Johnson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin on 12, India had lost 3-17 and was in sudden bother.