GWALIOR, Feb 24 (PTI): Sachin Tendulkar today created history by becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in one-day internationals with a breath-taking unbeaten 200 to steer India to a massive 401 for three against South Africa in the second cricket ODI here.
Tendulkar played an incredible and heart-stopping knock which came off just 147 balls, treating the capacity crowd at the Captain Roop Singh stadium to a stunning exhibition of strokeplay.
It was not only Tendulkar�s 46th ODI century but it also marked the highest score in one-dayers, eclipsing the previous record of 194 which was was held by Pakistan�s Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwe�s Charles Conventry.
The little master was on fire and the South African bowlers bore the brunt as they were literally made to bleed runs at the short ground. His sublime unbeaten 200 came off just 147 balls and was bejewelled with 25 fours and three sixes.
Along with the classic Mumbai batsman, Charl Langvedt went into the history books as Tendulkar achieved the amazing milestone off his bowling.
Tendulkar steered Langveldt to the off side to get to the magical figure and the packed stadium went into a frenzy.
Dinesh Karthik (79), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (68 not out) and Yusuf Pathan (36) were the other notable performers in India�s mammoth total, leaving the Proteas to score at a stiff asking rate of just over eight runs per over. Tendulkar�s previous best was an unbeaten 186 against New Zealand made at Hyderabad in 1999.
During his unforgettable knock, Tendulkar rattled up a record 194-run second-wicket partnership with Dinesh Karthik, who recorded his career best 79 off 85 balls with the help of four fours and three six. They bettered the earlier Indian record against the Proteas by 13 runs. Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid had made 181 at Nagpur in 2000.
It was Tendulkar all over as he also shared quick and big partnerships with Pathan and skipper Dhoni to pile the agony on the South Africans.
With Pathan he added 81 runs for the third wicket, which ended when the Baroda all-rounder fell to Roelf van der Merwe.
Pathan played his own aggressive brand of game and was ruthless against Parnell, hitting the left-armer for two sixes and a four in the 38th over.
Dale Steyn cut a sorry figure, bleeding runs in every spell of his and was hit for four boundaries in the 37th over by Pathan and Tendulkar. Such was the impact of the power-hitting of the Indian batsmen that hardly any visiting bowlers could keep a good line and length. Then for the fourth wicket, Tendulkar and Dhoni raised an unbeaten 101-run stand, which took India to its highest score against S Africa.
Earlier, Sehwag almost had a disastrous start as he survived a tough chance in the second ball of the match when South African pace spearhead Steyn failed to hold on to a low straight drive.
Sehawg though could not last long as one cut off Parnell flew down to third man and Steyn accepted the chance gleefully.
In came Dinesh Karthik and after a few watchful deliveries the Tamil Nadu batsman dispatched Parnell for a couple of fours to start his innings in brilliant fashion.
Karthik played a perfect partner to Tendulkar by keeping the scorer busy with good running and finding boundaries, letting the senior pro play his natural game. They did not spare any bad ball and in just 10 overs India had put on 74 runs on the board, puncturing all Proteas hopes of taking advantage of an early wicket.
South Africa�s opening bowlers were made to look pedestrian as they leaked 78 runs in their first spells. Tendulkar hit just four fours to reach 100 from 50 but opened up after reaching the three-figure mark as he lofted Duminy over long on for his first six after hitting Kallis for a four in the previous over.
