91�ȱ�

India batsman Sachin Tendulkar missed out on a historic 100th international century on the final day of the fourth Test against England at The Oval.

The 38-year-old, who has 51 Test match hundreds and 48 one-day international tons, would have become the first man to reach the milestone.

However, he has was trapped lbw by Tim Bresnan for 91.

He had earlier been dropped on 70 by Alastair Cook and 85 by Matt Prior, both off the bowling of Graeme Swann.

A sell-out crowd, including thousands of Indian fans, assembled at The Oval hoping to see the batsman, nicknamed the Little Master, make history in his 181st Test match.

After escaping being stumped on day four because England did not appeal, Tendulkar reached a 74-ball half-century early on Monday.

As India battled to save the game and avoid a 4-0 series whitewash, Tendulkar shared a fourth-wicket stand of 144 with nightwatchman Amit Mishra.

The world's leading run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs was dropped at short leg by Cook off Swann and survived two big shouts for lbw either side of being put down by Prior, with Swann again the bowler on each occasion.

However, after Mishra was bowled for 84 to become Swann's 150th Test victim, Tendulkar was pinned leg before by the first ball of Bresnan's spell.

His next chance to score his 100th international ton is likely to come in the first ODI against England at Chester-le-Street on 3 September.