Sachin Tendulkar Strokes Majestic 163 Sham Samaroo
Mar 8, 2009
Sachin Tendulkar scored his 43 ODI ton and his first in New Zealand to lead India to 392 for 4 and victory by 58 runs. Tendulkar was on target to score the first ODI double century when abdominal cramps, which troubled him throughout his innings, forced him to retire hurt on 163 of 133 balls with 5 overs still remaining. It was a supreme knock by the little master who used all his experience and skill to play one of the most brilliant innings of his ODI career to date. His opening partner, Virender Sehwag, has been on fire since the tour began, and the Kiwis admitted that they saw Sehwag as their biggest threat to winning the game. Tendulkar too has been the perfect foil to Sehwag quickly rotating the strike to keep him going. Tendulkar fully understands how important it is to keep Sehwag on strike because Sehwag is playing the very role that a young Tendulkar played 10 years ago. Understandably, therefore, the Kiwis were elated when Sehwag was bowled for 3 in the third over. But Tendulkar quickly switched gears and went into attack mode to deny the Kiwis the momentum.
Later, when Yuvraj went ballistic scoring 87 from 60 balls (10x4 and 6x6), Tendulkar did not let the ego get in the way. He quickly resorted to rotating the strike to his younger teammate. But when he got to his hundred he again switched gears moving from 100 to 163 in 32 deliveries. It was clever batting from Tendulkar who never gave the bowlers even a glimmer of hope. Said Brendon McCullum: "I don't remember even one shot that didn't come off the middle of the bat." "There were times as well that he played with half a blade and hit in areas that he precisely wanted to. I don't think I have seen too many better innings, in any form of the game".
That Tendulkar continues to play such innings at the highest level after 19 years of international cricket is testimony to his greatness. Tendulkar's innings often seem a work of art that leaves us in awe, and wondering just what he has next in store.