On a Song, Tendulkar Scripts Double-Ton, History at Gwalior
Bhopal — Extracting the first ever double-ton in ODI history, pocket sized powerhouse Sachin Tendulkar towered over the bowling, kept fielders and statisticians on their toes and sent a million twitter accounts buzzing over the fence, as the cricketing world celebrated his unbeaten knock of 200 off 147 that saw India amass a mammoth 401 for three in 50 overs against South Africa in the second one-dayer at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior.
On a song from the word go, the 36-year-old Mumbai miracle smashed 25 fours and three sixes to achieve the landmark 200, at a strike rate of well over 1.36, to prove that he only betters with age.
The first 50 came off a mere 37 deliveries and the first ton, his 46th in the limited version of the game, came off 90. He got past the previous highest ODI total of 194 in 140 deliveries and put his head down in the last over to add the colossal feather to his already well embellished blue cap.
Tendulkar’s innings was ably supported by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who remained unbeaten with a swashbuckling 68 off 35, Dinesh Karthik – 79 off 85 – and a spitfire cameo of 36 off 23 by Yusuf Pathan.
Not surprisingly, the achievement earned the little master an immediate ovation from the gods of the game, who pulled out all stops, and their gizmos, to post congratulatory messages on twitter.
“Yes yes yes !!!!!! Well done Sachin my friend … congrats and well done !!!!! awesome .Glad I’m not bowling to him today,” wrote Australian spin legend Shane Warne.
“My heartiest congratulations to Sachin the worlds greatest sportsman. We can see him only rise. He is the best,” wrote IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.
Describing Tendulkar as the “perfect role model” Pakistan willow Shoaib Malik said “The great thing about him is that he has been outstanding in both Tests and ODIs. As a Pakistani player, I know how much value we have always put on his wicket.”
“Records are there to be broken but it makes you happy when someone like Tendulkar does it. I think he thoroughly deserves this record and many more in days to come,” former Pakistan captain Javed Miandad was quoted as saying.
Congratulating the master blaster on his feat, President Pratibha Patil in a message said: “Sachin Tendulkar has yet again re-written the record books of cricket, by climbing yet another Mt Everest of the game.”
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Sachin’s performance as “magnificent’ and one that will make all Indians proud.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray said: “I don’t have words to express my admiration for Sachin.”
“I stop all my work and watch TV when Sachin is playing. His knock on Wednesday was simply brilliant,” said senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde.
Former Maharashtra chief minister and Union heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said, “Sachin’s honour is Maharashtra’s honour.”
With Tendulkar’s blistering innings setting the pace for a match and series win for India, the visiting Proteas have little to complain for, as a match or a series is a small price for a performance that is truly a ‘giant leap’ for world cricket.
