Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test Centuries: Century 46-50 

Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar's staggering Test career has been a subject of great dissection over the years and one of the most incredible statistics about his Test career is his century count of 51.

Each inning has its own place in history but it is also indicative of his stature as a batsman, who dominated bowling attacks. In 2010, he scored 5 centuries at the age of 37. Here is a closer look at each one of them.

#5 100 v South Africa at Nagpur, 2010

The first Test of the 2010 series against South Africa at Nagpur was a forgettable one for the hosts as they crashed to an innings defeat inside 4 days.

After South Africa made 558 in their first innings, India were dismissed for 233 and were asked to follow-on.

With defeat looming large, India played poorly yet again, but, Sachin Tendulkar played a superb inning to delay the inevitable for as long as he possibly could.

Tendulkar walked in to bat with India reeling at 24 for 2 but he did not curb his natural instincts and decided to take on the bowling attack comprising Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell.

He scored exactly a hundred runs to bring up his 46th century and hit 13 boundaries during the course of the inning. Tendulkar's technical brilliance and stroke making abilities were on full show, but he could not prevent an innings defeat for India.

#4 106 v South Africa at Kolkata, 2010

Having gone behind 1-0 in the series at Nagpur, India had to battle back in the 2nd Test at Eden Gardens and they did so by first dismissing South Africa for 296.

However, they had to make it count and through centuries from Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar, India scored 643.

Tendulkar's century was a cautious one since Sehwag was completely destroying the South Africa bowlers at the other end (165 off 174, 23 fours and 2 sixes) and he decided to drop anchor as the opening batsman scored at a frenetic pace.

Tendulkar consolidated India's position superbly by himself scoring at a strike rate of 51.45 for his 106 and hit 12 boundaries in the innings to complete a century that further boosted India's total.

It was his second century in the series and helped India in squaring off the series on the 5th evening.

#3 203 v Sri Lanka at SSC Colombo, 2010

This was the typical Sri Lankan run fest and Tendulkar cashed in by scoring a superb double hundred to help India score a mammoth total in response to the hosts' first innings total of 642.

India then had their own fun and it revolved around Sachin Tendulkar's 203, on a pitch that did not offer much to bowlers. He came in to bat when India were in a bit of a spot, having lost both openers in the space of 4 runs (169 for 2) and then Rahul Dravid soon after (179-3).

However, Tendulkar's stroke play and technical superiority won the day for India, as the master strung together a partnership with debutant Suresh Raina to get India out of trouble.

He played all the strokes in the book and scored briskly (strike rate 58.50) as the Sri Lankan bowlers finally wilted under the onslaught.

Tendulkar hit 23 boundaries and a solitary six in his innings and when he was finally dismissed, India had reached 592. The Test match was saved.

#2 214 v Australia at Bengaluru, 2010

2010 was a vintage year for Tendulkar as he seemed to be in absolutely sparkling form and that was on show in the 2nd Test of the 4 game series against Australia in Bengaluru when he brought up his 4th Test century of the year.

Trailing 1-0 in the series, Australia gave a good account of themselves and piled up 478 in their 1st innings. When India batted, they had reduced the hosts to 38 for 2 but then Tendulkar, in the company of Murli Vijay started the fightback.

Yet again, Tendulkar played an innings in which he was in complete control and played his strokes with aplomb, as India started to gain ascendancy in the Test match. By the time, he was finally out for 214, India had gained a lead.

He had hit 22 boundaries and 2 sixes in the innings and scored at an exceptional strike rate of 58.95 to take India right back into the Test match. India eventually won the game by 7 wickets, with Tendulkar scoring 53 in the 2nd innings as the hosts chased down 207 runs.

#1 111 not out v South Africa at Centurion Park, 2010

India had done well during the 3 Test series in South Africa back in 2010-11 as they performed creditably and drew the series 1-1.

However, the first Test match of the series was a forgettable one as they crashed to 136 all out on the first day at Centurion Park and when South Africa piled on the misery by scoring 620 in their reply, the visitors succumbed to a sorry innings defeat.

However, unlike the 1st innings, India played much better in the 2nd innings and scored 459, thanks to good innings from the openers, a 90 from captain Dhoni and an unbeaten 111 from Tendulkar.

It was his 50th century and it showed that sort of innings he was capable of even at the age of 37 against the best bowling attacks in world cricket at the time.

It was a relatively sedate inning since India were looking to save the Test match but even then he played plenty of delightful strokes and hit 13 boundaries along with 1 six.

He remained unbeaten and maybe, with a bit of support, Tendulkar might have saved the Test.