Earlier, resuming at the overnight score of 79 for three, Dravid and Tendulkar met the cherry with the meat of their bat. Their elegance at the crease and crisp stroke play belied what was to come in the latter part of the day.

The Mumbaikar was on top of his game, executing some exquisite strokes on the up, a couple of square drives coming straight out of the Tendulkar stable.