Record-breaker Tendulkar tops the all-time list for Test caps

'The Little Master' (above) passed the mark set by former Australia captain Steve Waugh (GETTY IMAGES)

Sachin Tendulkar became the most capped Test player in the history of the game yesterday, but once the record had been marked and his 169th appearance for India recorded, it was Sri Lanka who left the field the happier side.

Half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera helped the home side, who lead the series 1-0 going into the final match, to 293 for 4 at stumps and seem to be heading towards another massive first-innings total in the series, although Sangakkara (75) and Jayawardene (56) failed to convert their starts into centuries.

"The Little Master", meanwhile, was passing the mark of the former Australia captain Steve Waugh to add to his plethora of records including most Test centuries (48) and most Test runs (13,742).

Forced to field first after losing the toss for the third time in a row, India's bowlers performed well in patches, with left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha the pick of the attack with 2 for 78 in 26 overs.

The fifth-wicket partnership between Samaraweera (65 not out) and Angelo Mathews (26no) had swelled to 52 runs when play was called off due to bad light.

Most test caps

SR Tendulkar (Ind) 1989-2010, 169

SR Waugh (Aus) 1985-2004, 168

AR Border (Aus) 1978-1994, 156

RT Ponting (Aus) 1995-2010, 146

SK Warne (Aus) 1992-2007, 145

R Dravid (Ind) 1996-2010, 142

JH Kallis (SA) 1995-2010, 140

MV Boucher (SA) 1997-2010, 134

M Muralitharan (SL) 1992-2010, 133

AJ Stewart (Eng) 1990-2003, 133