Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's ODI centuries (26-30)

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar not only wowed the cricketing audience with his array of determination and grit, he also ensured that he left a lasting impact in the record books as well. The only international star with hundred centuries to his name, including 49 ODI tons, Tendulkar was a cricketing phenomenal who gave the fans many moments to savour.

In a continuation of our exclusive series, we relive his mastery by having a look at his ODI hundreds twenty six to thirty.

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#5 ODI century number 26 - 101 against Sri Lanka in Sharjah (2000)

The first match of the Sharjah Champions Trophy, featuring Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and India, began on a good note as the Indian camp elected to bat first. After the early dismissal of Sourav Ganguly, Tendulkar took it upon himself to help guide India through the early jitters. But while he was going strong at the other end, the inability of his teammates to accompany him ensured that India could manage just 224 in their quota of overs.

Four Indian players were run-out in the innings, including Tendulkar himself, but not before the Mumbaikar had scored a fighting 101 in 140 deliveries, with three boundaries and a six.

The target of 225 hardly troubled the Lankans, who reached the score with more than six overs to spare. However, Tendulkar was named as the Man of the Match.

#4 ODI century number 27 - 146 against Zimbabwe in Jodhpur (2000)

As had been the growing norm in the recent past, the Indian team once again depended on the mastery of Tendulkar, after the early dismissal of Ganguly. The opener stitched together a 114-run partnership with Rahul Dravid in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe in Jodhpur, of which Dravid contributed just 30. Once the latter was dismissed, the Indian middle order could provide hardly and resistance to Tendulkar, who was en route his twenty seventh ODI hundred.

His knock of 146 in 153 deliveries was laced with fifteen boundaries and two sixes. He tried to take his team to a competitive target, but when he fell in the 47th over, with the score board reading 235, the inevitable loomed large. Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar combined to take the Indian score to 283, but the heroics of the Flower brothers ensured that Zimbabwe rode home with a wicket to spare.

#3 ODI century number 28 - 139 against Australia in Indore (2001)

After scripting one of the most remarkable comebacks in the Test series, the Indian and the Australian sides faced off for a gruelling ODI series. Locked 1-1, the two squads moved ahead to Indore in an attempt to gain a lead. Opener Dravid fell with the score reading just 32 and the onus was once again on Tendulkar to guide India to a safe target.

Along with VVS Laxman, he put on 199 runs for the second wicket, after which they could just manage 68 more runs in the remaining 12 overs. Chasing a stiff 300 for a win, the Aussies capitulated for just 181; courtesy three-wicket hauls from both Ajit Agarkar and Harbhajan Singh.

Tendulkar for his mammoth knock of 139 was the Man of the Match. The innings came off 125 deliveries, with 19 boundaries.

#2 ODI century number 29 - 122 against West Indies in Harare (2001)

In the sixth game of the Coca-Cola Cup, a tournament that also featured Zimbabwe, India won the toss and elected to field first against the Carl Hooper led-West Indies side. Able to manage just 229 runs in thir 50 overs, the Windies desperately hoped for a good start in the second innings, which was thwarted by the 133-run partnership between Ganguly and Tendulkar.

Even though his partner was back in the hut, Tendulkar carried on to script his 29th ODI hundred in 131 deliveries. The knock of 122 had twelve boundaries and one six and it helped India achieve the target with six wickets in hand.

#5 ODI century number 30 - 101 against South Africa in Johannesburg (2001)

In the 1st match of the tri-series against South Africa, the Indian team romped to a blazing start, putting on 193 runs for the first wicket. While Captain Ganguly made 127, Tendulkar made 101 runs in 129 deliveries. However, the rest of the Indian line-up could hardly garner any momentum, ending up with 279/5 on the board.

The target hardly proved a stumbling block for the Proteas, who were guided ably by Gary Kirsten's knock of 133. They reached the target in the 49th over and yet another Tendulkar century ended in vain.