Sachin shines as India rout South Africa

Sachin Tendulkar went past the highest individual score in ODI cricket as India beat South Africa in the second ODI at Gwalior to take 2-0 lead in the three match series.

India beat South Africa by an overwhelming 153 run margin to clinch the 3-ODI series.

MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first on a belter of a pitch, with a score of about 300 in mind. The hosts got off to a cracking start and blazed away to 74 in the Quick start overs, despite losing Virender Sehwag early. Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik batted with controlled aggression as India reached 200 in the 31st over. The little master had gone past three figures at that point and the stage was set for India to capitalise. The duo went on to share a record 194 run stand for the second wicket off just 177 balls, before Karthik was out. Tendulkar was joined by Yusuf Pathan as India opted for the Batting Power play and it continued to rain boundaries. They added 53 runs in the five overs as India strengthened their hold on the game. Dhoni joined Tendulkar in the middle for the Extreme Performance period and he did not disappoint. The two of them helped India add 115 runs in the last ten overs. India went past the 400 run mark as Sachin Tendulkar finished unbeaten with a record score of 200, to his name.

South Africa needed a more than solid start if they were to have any chance of getting the total, despite being the only team to have successfully chased 400-plus in the past. They started well in terms of the scoring rate, adding 81 runs in the first Power Play but also lost three crucial top order wickets. They slid further back as India picked up another three wickets before the 15 over mark, to leave the Proteas tottering at 105 for six. The game was well beyond the visitors from that point and it was a matter of time before they were bundled out. AB de Villiers fought a lone battle in a lost cause, scoring a well compiled century and getting good support from the lower order batsmen. They were eventually bowled out for 248 in the 43rd over as India registered a historic win, in more than one way.

Tendulkar was the unanimous choice for Man of the Match honours, for his unbeaten 200 off just 147 balls, with a staggering Batting Momentum of 352.