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Published>Thu, Feb 25 10 12:15 PM

First in the world to score a double century in one-dayers

Sachin's magical knock comes off amere 147 balls

Tendulkar in a league of his own after cracking first- ever 200 in ODIs

SACHIN Tendulkar treated the packed Captain Roop Singh Stadium to one of the most daring displays of strokeplay in the history of One-Day International cricket as the Master Blaster slammed an unbeaten 200 against South Africa here on Wednesday.

Since the time Pakistan?s Saeed Anwar scored an energy-sapping 194 against India in June 1997 at the Independence Cup in Chennai, cricket fans have been waiting to see if anyone could scale the 200-mark. Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe equalled Anwar's record with a 194 not out against Bangladesh in Bulawayo last year.

But then, it had to be Tendulkar who was going to score the historic 200 in an ODI. At a time when people feel that T20 cricket is what sends the pulse racing, Tendulkar uncorked the champagne stuff against the hapless Proteas on a flat track, smashing 25 boundaries and three sixes.

Two months short of his 37th birthday, the Mumbaikar, who says he wants to give up playing ODI cricket after the 2011 World Cup, treated the audience to audacious and authentic strokes which one gets to see once in a lifetime. Tendulkar paced his knock wonderfully.

Till the 40th over, he went hammer and tongs at the South African attack. Once he had reached the 190s, it was captain MS Dhoni who then started scoring briskly. History was made in the 50th over. Off the third ball, Tendulkar pushed a Charl Langeveldt delivery towards point and traversed the distance of 22 yards to the non-striker's end which saw fans erupt with joy inside the stadium.

Tendulkar took off his helmet and raised his bat while looking skywards. It was as if he was having a short conversation with his late father Ramesh Tendulkar, who he treats as his role model. The South Africans, who were at the receiving end all along, rushed to congratulate the champion even as Dhoni hugged the star batsman.

It all began on a warm Wednesday afternoon when Tendulkar struck his first boundary off Wayne Parnell in the second over of the day. After losing opening partner Virender Sehwag early, Tendulkar took it upon himself to keep the tempo of the innings up. He brought up his half-century off 36 balls and his 46th ODI ton off 90.

He then took the South African bowlers to the cleaners, helping India smash 63 off the 30 balls of the batting powerplay, reaching his 150 off just 118 balls.

Generations of cricket lovers have witnessed the Master Blaster?s 20 years in international cricket. From the watershed moment against New Zealand in March 1994 when he first opened the batting and scored a quickfire 82, to his twin tons against the Australians in Sharjah in 1998, through the swashbuckling 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup to the heart- breaking 175 in a losing cause against Australia in Hyderabad last year ? each knock is etched in the minds of the millions of cricket fans.

The last few months have certainly seen Tendulkar return to a level of batting which had dissipated after a spate of career-threatening injuries to his elbow, back and toe in the last decade.

With critics complaining that Tendulkar has forgotten the art of demolition, one would have expected his successor ? Sehwag ? to achieve the feat of becoming the first batsman to score 200 runs in a single innings in ODIs. In fact, Sehwag often expressed his desire to become the first batsman to score 200 runs in ODIs. But on Wednesday, Tendulkar once again showed why he is the man who Sir Donald Bradman considered closest to his own style of batting.

Chief curator Ajay Sahasrabuddhe was elated that the Captain Roop Singh Stadium was the venue for the historic moment.

"No words can describe my feeling.

I had told you on the eve of the match that god- willing, this match would witness Tendulkar?s best ODI knock till date.

And that is exactly what has happened.

I can?t believe that my words have actually come true."

"I might have prepared a batting paradise, but it was the genius of Tendulkar alone who made this innings possible. Having prepared the pitch, even I am now a part of this historic event," Sahasrabuddhe told MAIL TODAY . The crowd which had come expecting to see India win was mesmerised by the innings.

"We had come expecting to see India seal the series in Gwalior itself and maintain their impressive record at this venue, but this was truly unexpected and out of the world. These things can never be planned and I am sure that even a great like Tendulkar would have never planned for such an innings," said Rohan, a spectator. Shane Warne had famously admitted that he had nightmares after Tendulkar's 'Desert Storm' in Sharjah. One wonders if the South Africans would even manage to sleep anytime soon.

baidurjo.bhose@mailtoday.in

I'd like to dedicate this double hundred to the people of India for standing behind me for the last 20 years, come what may

It was only when I crossed 175 and realised that it was still the 42nd over, I felt I have an opportunity (to score 200). So I decided to take singles and give strike to Dhoni

I don?t play for records, I play the game because I enjoy it and I still have the passion for it. I didn't start playing cricket to break records

No record is unbreakable and I think if anyone can break this record now, it will only be an Indian.

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