Picture Credit: BCCI/Twitter
Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar hit the first-ever double hundred in ODIs on this day, 11 years ago. The knock came against South Africa at Gwalior as India scored a mammoth 401/3 before bowling out the opponents for 248 to complete a 153-run win. Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma later became the other Indians to join the 200-club with Rohit producing three such innings till date.
India opted to bat first in this Day-Night game
Indian captain MS Dhoni had won the toss and opted to bat first in this fixture. Sachin came out to open the batting with Virender Sehwag. However, it wasn't quite the best of starts for Team India as Sehwag departed only in the fourth over with Wayne Parnell getting rid of him. It was then that Dinesh Karthik joined Tendulkar. The duo added 194 runs for the second wicket with Sachin looking exquisite in the partnership. He dominated the stand, scoring 108 runs off 92 balls in this period before DK was sent back by Parnell.
25 fours and 3 sixes in the masterclass from Sachin
DK's wicket hardly seemed to affect Sachin at the other end who continued his rich form. Yusuf Pathan earned a promotion seeing the hosts' position and made a quickfire 36. But then MS Dhoni and Sachin plundered runs brutally towards the end as they aimed at batting the opposition out of the match. Sachin was particularly pleasing to the eye, playing all shorts in the book and finding the minutest of gaps on the field as he struck 25 boundaries and 3 sixes in the innings.
Nearing a historic landmark, Sachin took his time but MS Dhoni (68 off 35) at the other end, ensured that the scoring rate is not slowed down. The Master Blaster finally got there with a single through point as the fans gave one of the loudest roars in the cricket stadium. Sachin celebrated in typical style remaining not out on 200.
#OnThisDay in 2010, the legendary @sachin_rt became the first batsman to score a double hundred in the ODIs. ?? #TeamIndia
To watch that special knock from the Master Blaster, click here ? ? https://t.co/DbYjKtJhi6 pic.twitter.com/5ie2RqDcI7
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
AB de Villiers ton in vain
In response, AB de Villiers too put on a great effort- remaining unbeaten on 114. However, he ran out of partners as the Men in Blue completed a comprehensive win. None of the other Proteas batsmen could stay long enough at the wicket to threaten the Indian score who just had too many runs on the board. S Sreesanth was the most successful Indian bowler night taking 3 wickets for 49 runs.