Sachin Tendulkar hit the first double century in the history of ODI cricket to lead India to a crushing 153-run victory over South Africa in the second One-Day International, in Gwalior, on Wednesday.
Earler,India won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat on a flat wicket in Gwalior.They retained the same combination that won the first ODI.Meanwhile South Africa made three changes to their squad.The in-form Hashim Amla replaced opener Loots Bosman while left-hander JP Duminy replaced all-rounder Albie Morkel and left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe replaced Johan Botha.
Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, the Master himself,helped to reach 401/3 in 50 overs. It was a flawless knock by the Master Blaster, ending on an unbeaten 200 off just 147 balls which included 25 boundaries and 3 sixes.Overshadowed by that great knock were the other Indian batsmen. Sehwag though missed out, Karthik (79) played quite well to add a staggering 194 runs for the second wicket along with Tendulkar.Pathan (36) played a fine cameo and so did the Indian skipper. MS Dhoni who went on to make an unbeaten 68 off just 35 balls which included 7 fours and 4 mighty sixes.. Parnell (2/95) picked up two wickets going for plenty while van der Merwe (1/62) was the only one to have some respectable figures.
South Africa in reply was all out for 248 in the 43rd over despite a fighting unbeaten 114 by AB De Villers.A rattled Proteas couldn't take up the Indian challenge as half of the side was back in the dressing room for 102 in 14 overs.The only redeeming feature was de Villiers who, even as wickets kept falling at the other end, notched his fifth one-day hundred off 85 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and two sixes.Opener Herschelle Gibbs, disappointed as he attempted to play fine an outside off stump delivery from medium-pacer Parveen Kumar, got an inside edge and was bowled for 7.Hashim Amla, inducted into the side after he scored more than 400 runs in the test series against India, was again on a roll. He hit India pace bowler Ashish Nehra for four boundaries, three of them consecutively, in the fourth over.However, Amla, too, could not build on a good start and his departure triggered a collapse.Nehra had reasons to smile as he caught Amla as the latter pulled a short pitched delivery from pacerSreesanth from outside the off stump. Amla scored 34 off 22 balls, including seven boundaries. Nehra then bowled Kallis for 11 at 83-4.At 103-6 runs in the 15th over, de Villiers and Mark Boucher tried to repair the damage.However, it was India's day and it bowled out the visitors in 42.5 overs. Sreesanth bagged 3-49, Nehra 2-60 and Yusuf Pathan 2-37.
Score Card:
Ind 401/3 (50.0 Ovs)
RSA 248-all out (42.5 Ovs)
Man of the match:
Sachin Tendulkar 200(147)
