Tendulkar made an unbeaten 152

Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his 48th Test hundred to lead India’s fightback on the third day of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo on Wednesday.

The batting maestro reached his ton in 167 balls which was studded with 13 boundaries and a six.

Suresh Raina scored a fighting century on debut and Sachin Tendulkar made an unbeaten 152 as India avoided the follow on Thursday in the second test against Sri Lanka.

Resuming day four at 382-4 and needing 61 more runs to avoid the follow on, Raina and Tendulkar added 95 runs in the opening session to reach 477-4 at lunch. They had added an unbroken 236 runs for the fifth wicket.

Tendulkar recorded his 48th test century, facing 264 balls, hitting 20 fours and a six. Raina was unbeaten on 112, facing 213 balls and hitting 11 fours and two sixes. He became the ninth Indian to score a century on his test debut.

Sri Lanka scored 642-4 in its first innings and leads the series 1-0. With only eight wickets having fallen in 10 sessions, the game looked headed toward a draw.

India was vulnerably placed on 241-4 on Wednesday needing 200 more runs to avoid the follow-on when Tendulkar and Raina paired together.

Tendulkar made Sri Lanka pay for a dropped catch by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene off seamer Dilhara Fernanado when he was 29 runs, scoring his sixth test century for 2010.

India started a strong reply to Sri Lanka's first innings score Wednesday with openers Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay sharing 165 runs, but Sri Lanka spinners Suraj Randiv and Ajantha Mendis struck back taking two wickets each.

India were vulnerably placed on 243/4 at tea on day three needing 200 runs to avoid follow on, but it reached 382/4 at stumps. India just need 61 runs to avoid follow on with six wickets in hand.

Tendulkar, who holds the record of scoring highest number of centuries, played brilliant cricket with Suresh Raina to dominate the day.

Sachin also equalled the former Australian captain Steve Waugh's Test record to have played the most number of matches (168).

Tendulkar shared an unbroken 141-run partnership for the fifth wicket with debutant Suresh Raina.

Tendulkar was unbeaten on 108 at stumps while Raina, who made a half-century in his maiden Test innings, was not out on 66 off 133 balls, including eight boundaries.

Earlier, VVS Laxman departed after a slow partnership with Sachin Tendulkar to leave India tottering at 243 for four at tea.

Tendulkar and Laxman almost batted through the second session but Ajantha Mendis broke the slow 68-run stand by trapping the stylish Hyderabadi 10 minutes before tea break.

Tendulkar, who was dropped on 29 by Prasanna Jayawardene off Dilhara Fernando, was batting on 39 and debutant Suresh Raina was yet to open his account.

Laxman (29) and Tendulkar dug in went about their business slowly and raised a stand of 68-run to deny the Lankan bowlers any success for almost two hours.

The mid-session produced 70 runs after the troubled opening session, which saw India being jolted by three quick blows including that of explosive Virender Sehwag.

Tendukar's runs came off 95 balls while Laxman consumed 98 balls for his 29-run knock.

The duo slowed down the proceedings by playing a lot of dot balls and relied on ones and twos to keep the scoreboard moving.

Laxman was lucky as his edges, off spinner Suraj Randiv and paceman Dammika Prasad, fell short of fielders.

Laxman finally got out as he failed to read a Mendis googly and was caught in front of the wicket.