Sachin Tendulkar scored his 38th ODI century: The legendary Indian batsman defied cramps to register a splendid ODI hundred.
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On this day in 2005, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar had scored his 38th ODI century in the fourth ODI of Pakistan’s tour of India at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad.
After the then India captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat, Tendulkar and fellow opening batsman Virender Sehwag (29) provided a brisk start to India in the form of a 65-run opening stand.
Sehwag getting out in the 11th over didn’t affect Tendulkar as he continued to play his shots in the presence of wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni (47). Tendulkar, then 31, was seen attempting to take on the Pakistani bowlers.
On the second delivery of the 21st over, Tendulkar guided a delivery from Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq towards the third-man boundary to bring his half-century. Bowling from round the wicket, Pakistani leg-spinners in Shahid Afridi and Danish Kaneria getting hit for sixes down the ground was the highlight of Tendulkar’s innings.
Tendulkar and Dhoni’s 129-run partnership coming at a strike rate of more than 100 put India in a formidable position in a 48-over match.
On the first delivery of the 33rd over, Tendulkar ran a single off Razzaq to reach the three-figure mark while battling cramps. Tendulkar’s attempt of sweeping Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik saw him getting bowled behind his legs in the 42nd over as he continued to struggle with fitness.
Having scored 123 (130) with the help of 12 fours and two sixes, Tendulkar top-scored for India as they posted 315/6 in 48 overs in a losing cause.
Individual half-centuries from Malik (65) and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (60*) saw the visitors sealing the chase on the last ball of the match to reduce their series deficit to 2-2.
Sachin Tendulkar scored his 38th ODI century
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