Sachin Tendulkar smashed a world-record 200 not out as India beat South Africa by 153 runs in the second one-dayer on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The veteran opener, the world’s first batsman to hammer a double-century in one-day internationals, cracked 25 fours and three sixes in his rapid-fire 147-ball knock for his 46th three-figure score as India posted 401-3.
South Africa, batting under the pressure of a massive total, were virtually out of contention when they lost six wickets for just 103, before being all out for 248 in the day-night match in Gwalior.
AB de Villiers top scored with a fighting 114 not out for his fifth one-day hundred, hitting two sixes and 13 fours in his 101-ball knock.
Paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth bagged three wickets, while seamer Ashish Nehra, and spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Yusuf Pathan, took two wickets apiece.
Zimbabwean Charles Coventry (194 not out) and Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar (194) were the joint record-holders for the highest individual score before Tendulkar surpassed them.
The 36-year-old, who holds world marks for most runs and centuries in both Tests and one-day cricket, reached the milestone in the last over when he took a single off paceman Charl Langeveldt.
“I don’t know how to react,” said Tendulkar, named man of the match. “I’d like to dedicate this double-hundred to the people of India for standing behind me for the last 20 years throughout the ups and downs.
“I felt that when I was 175-plus and it was the 42nd over I had a chance, but I wasn’t actually thinking of it [double century]. It was only when I got closer to it that I thought about it.”
Master batsman
Tendulkar went for shots early in the innings, racing to his half-century off just 37 balls, with nine fours. He took 53 more deliveries to reach his hundred.
The master batsman went on the rampage after completing his hundred as he needed just 57 more balls to reach the double-century.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan also made merry on a flat track. The Indian captain helped add a brisk 101 for the unfinished fourth wicket with Tendulkar.
Dhoni hit a 35-ball 68 not out with four sixes and seven fours and Pathan 36 off 23 balls as India posted their highest total against South Africa, and their third-biggest in one-day internationals.
“Sachin batted through the innings and played really well, using the pace of the ball when he got tired,” said Dhoni.
“Once they [South Africa] lost three/four early wickets, it was difficult for them to get back into the game.”
The day belonged to Tendulkar, who delighted the spectators with his rich stroke play, executing breathtaking shots on both sides of the wicket to reduce the South African bowlers to a state of helplessness.
India lost Virender Sehwag (nine) in the fourth over after electing to bat, but Tendulkar received valuable support from Dinesh Karthik, who scored a career-best 79 in a record 194-run stand for the second wicket.
India’s previous best for the second wicket against South Africa in one-dayers was 180 between Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Nagpur in 2000.
“It was a fantastic innings by Sachin. He took advantage of some good conditions and he played superbly,” said South Africa captain Jacques Kallis.
“The toss was quite vital. Our basics were just not good enough today. We lost wickets at crucial stages. We let ourselves down in some areas.” — AFP