Score17 ODI Tendulkar record hits: 55 24/02/2010, cricket, guardian.co.uk, cricket team in India, news, Sachin Tendulkar, sport, Guardian Unlimited

Score17 ODI Tendulkar record hits: 55 24/02/2010, cricket, guardian.co.uk, cricket team in India, news, Sachin Tendulkar, sport, Guardian Unlimited

hero of India first ODI Tendulkar hits 200
South Africa lost by 153 runs in Gwalior

Sachin Tendulkar has become the first cricketer to double-hundred in the 39 years of an international day of cricket.

The hot ticket comes 10 months after his 36th birthday four years after he was booed in his hometown in Mumbai, with his career seemingly in terminal phase. Somewhat unlikely given tickets today, the abuse had been slow to score.

Tendulkar one of India ended the second day of the match against South Africa unbeaten in exactly 200, then 147 balls of beautiful destruction. He relied on finesse as much as strength, reaching only three sixes to go with 25 to four.

India reached 401 for three in 50 overs under floodlights Gwalior, against one of the strongest attacks in the world.

In response, South African batsman began in similar mood but were soon overwhelmed stuck by a rate of eight asking too much. Despite a run to a ball century AB de Villiers, who lost by 153 runs, their second-heaviest defeat in a day.

Tendulkar cruised past the former world record score - the 194 set by Pakistan Saeed Anwar against India in 1996-97, which was matched in 2009 by Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe against a weak Bangladesh team. However, when MS Dhoni's strike stole the latest and lifting the first ball for six seemed Tendulkar could end up stranded on a sour 199.

But as fans of his hero, Dhoni - who had held almost exclusively at the borders - wisely pacing a shot, and the next Tendulkar nurdled a tour ravine to reach 200. He and Dhoni, who had a small tornado of entries, added 101 in just 54 balls.

Tendulkar had started with the limits on both sides of the window outside Wayne Parnell and then played a series of cuts, pulls and drives.

Memorable, in the first of more than batting PowerPlay and General 35, Dale Steyn bowled a full, prompt delivery outside off stump, Tendulkar simply walked across his stumps and threw for a narrow gap in midwicket. Steyn could only see the ball velocity and shrug.

Tendulkar has scored more runs than anyone in history, both in one day international and test matches. It was briefly dropped by India in 2007, but has since regained its position as the most revered cricketer of the subcontinent.

Sachin Tendulkar
India Cricket Team
Cricket


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