Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar maintained his extraordinary run of form to spur India to a formidable 292 for six in the Super Six Cricket World Cup match at the Wanderers on Friday.
Tendulkar made 97 after putting on 153 for the first wicket with Virender Sehwag. The partnership, from 166 balls, laid the foundation for India’s huge tally. Tendulkar, however, fell short for the second time in three matches of a ton that would have brought his personal tally to 34 one-day international centuries.
Against Pakistan at Centurion Park, Tendulkar made 98. At the Wanderers, he appeared completely untroubled as he neared three figures. He completely mistimed a sweep off Aravinda de Silva to be caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Despite missing out on another century, Tendulkar’s knock on Monday was good enough to break his own record for the most runs made at a World Cup.
In 1996, he amassed 523 runs — after Monday’s innings, Tendulkar moved to 571 runs with potentially three more innings to come. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of all for the Indians though was the return to form of Sehwag.
The highly rated Sehwag was averaging just 16,71 prior to Monday’s fixture. He cast that unflattering figure behind him at the Bullring to make what was, at times, a breathtaking 66. He drove Sanath Jaysauriya twice over extra cover for six in one
over before foolishly chancing his arm against Muttiah Muralitharan.
Amid the carnage being wrought by Sehwag and Tendulkar, Chaminda Vaas managed to keep a tight lid on matters from his end. Apart from bowling both Sourav Ganguly for 48 and Yuvraj Singh for five, Vaas’s 10 overs cost just 34 runs.
Muralitharan ended with three for 46.
Shortly before 3pm, Sri Lanka had slumped to 32 for 4. – Sapa