Sachin Tendulkar's hopes of scoring his 100th international hundred in Sunday's World Cup clash against the West Indies ended in disappointment when he was dismissed for just two.
Some 38,000 fans had packed into the Chidambaram Stadium in expectation of seeing the 'Little Master' add to his tally of record achievements.
But his innings lasted only four balls when he clipped fast bowler Ravi Rampaul to wicketkeeper Devon Thomas and Tendulkar walked off to a stunned silence from the crowd.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and batted in the Group B clash and there were raucous cheers from fans as it meant they would be guaranteed an early glimpse of Tendulkar.
A trademark clip off his legs for two off his first ball from Rampaul suggested Tendulkar, who moved to 99 hundreds (51 in Tests and 48 in one-day internationals) against South Africa last time out, remained in good form.
He then calmly dealt with the next two deliveries, neither resulting in a run for the batsman.
But then the fourth ball he faced leapt from just short of a length from outside off-stump and straightened a touch.
Tendulkar stabbed at the ball, taking his bottom hand of the bat handle, before it flew through to Thomas.
Rampaul and the West Indies let out frenzied appeals but Australian umpire Steve Davis was unmoved.
However, after a brief pause, Tendulkar walked off with India eight for one in the first over.
Tendulkar's next chance to score his 100th century will come in Thursday's quarter-final at Ahmedabad where India will face either champions Australia or fellow co-hosts Sri Lanka.
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