Gwalior witnessed history as Sachin smashed the 200-barrier in ODIs & India romped home to a 153-run win over South Africa to take an
unassailable 2-0 lead in three-match rubber.
In the end, South Africa managed only 38 more than Sachin Tendulkar’s individual score of 200!
Chasing an improbable 402 for victory, the visitors were bundled out in the 43rd over thereby handing the hosts a mammoth 153-run victory.
By virtue of this win, India have retained their No.2 ranking in the ODI table. The saving grace for the Proteas was AB de Villiers’s gritty, unbeaten 114. India also took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series which concludes in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
The day started quite well for India. There was no second opinion required on what to do after winning the toss on a belter like the one on offer.
Though Virender Sehwag (9) departed early, Tendulkar was there to take India to safety. Sachin’s 147-ball 200 was not only an out-of-the-world effort but a landmark innings in the history of the game.
Dinesh Karthik, coming in at No.3, wasn’t a spectator though.
Enthused by the senior pro’s marauding act, Karthik was finding the gaps and clearing the rope at regular intervals. The South Africans were reduced to mere spectators by then. Karthik also made his way into the record books by sharing a stand of 194 runs with Tendulkar for the second wicket against South Africa, bettering the previous mark of 181 set by Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid in Nagpur versus the same opponent.
Karthik, however, returned to the pavilion after smacking 79 off 85 (4x4, 3x6). He was caught by Herschelle Gibbs at mid-wicket off Wayne Parnell.
The next ploy — that of promoting Yusuf Pathan — worked wonders as he chipped in with a timely quickfire 36 from 23 balls laced with four fours and two sixes. Pathan ensured India got to 300 with ease. He then left it for skipper Dhoni, who ensured India went past 400.
With Tendulkar going strong at the other end, Dhoni exhibited his array of shots to gather runs at the slightest of opportunities.
Apart from launching himself into big shots, Dhoni managed work the balls into the gaps to gather ones and twos and kept the scoreboard running.
Dhoni notched up his 50 in no time and eventually remained unbeaten on 68 from 37 balls with seven boundaries and he cleared the ropes four times.
In reply, the visitors were shaky from the very beginning. Praveen Kumar struck the first blow by dismissing Herschelle Gibbs (7) in the third over of the innings. Roelof van der Merwe (12), Hashim Amla (34) and Jacques Kallis (11) followed suit as South Africa found themselves out of the race. Alviro Petersen (9), JP Duminy (0) and Mark Boucher (14) didn’t bother the scorers all that much.
Sreesanth was the pick of the bowlers with 3-49.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}