Tendulkar’s delightful ton in India’s easy win

SHARJAH, Nov 8:Sachin Tendulkar struck a masterly 20th one-day century with an unbeaten 118 and claimed yet another world record to lead India to a professionally carved seven wicket win over Zimbabwe in the Coca Cola Cup Triangular Cricket Tournament here tonight.

The 25-year little champion paced his knock beautifully to both accelerate and anchor at the same time in a gem of an effort as India coasted to 197 for three in 40.4 overs on bowling out the Africans to a modest 196 in 49.5 overs after inserting them first at the Sharjah Stadium.

The peerless Tendulkar rattled up his eighth century this year (118 n.o. - 112 b, 14 x 4, 2 x 6) which with his 16 test hundreds fetched him yet another impressive as the scorer of most number of test and one-day hundreds put together (36), which placed him ahead of the record of 35 held jointly by India’s Sunil Gavaskar (34 and one) and west Indians Vivian Richards (24/11) and Desmond Haynes (18/17).

The one-day century world record holder also reached the 7500-run mark when on 44 to lead the total domination of the Zimbabwean team by India to notch up their second straight win and almost ensure a place in the November 13 final.

‘Man of the match’ Tendulkar, who systematically dismantled the Zimbabwe bowling, and skipper Mohd Azharuddin 28 (56 b) came up with decisive 92-run third wicket stand before the former took a single to deservingly bring about victory just into the slog overs.

Ajay Jadeja (12 not out) was in Tendulkar’s company when India rounded off the easy win.

Tendulkar began on a cautious note as Ganguly (28 - 49 b, 5 x 4) brought off the early boundaries through elegant offside shots off paceman Eddo Brandes, but once heath streak came on as first change he began opening out with superb driven fours on either side of the wicket.

The opening stand was worth 63 runs when Ganguly perished after he stepped out to leg spinner Paul Strang, the only successfully Zimbabwe bowler who took all three wickets giving away just 32 runs in his quota of 10 overs, was beaten in the air and was comprehensively stumped by keeper Andy Flower.

Mongia, who hit a useful half-century in India’s thrilling three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the opener, went in strang’s next over, uppishly driving to Neil Johnson at mid off, but Tendulkar kept the runs pouring in Azhar’s company.

He exploded into action immediately after reaching his half-century in just 45 balls, slamming off-break bowler Andy Flower to two consecutive straight fours before Seppin out the next ball to hit a towering six over long-on which soared over the roof of the stadium. The over cost 18 runs with Tendulkar accounting for 17 of them.

He mixed up big hits with a few delectable improvised sweep shots and steers to ease through to his hundred off just 97 balls (13 x 4, 1 x 6) before bringing off his second six by sending the hitherto tight strang over midwicket.

Azharuddin, content to rotate the strike, fell with India close to victory as he lofted strang over midwicket only to see Neil Johnson dive full length and bring off a spectacular catch an inch or so from the ground. (PTI)