Sachin Tendulkar scores 48th ODI century against South Africa

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The runs keep flowing from the bat of the batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. He notched up his 48th One Day International century against South Africa at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur on March 12, 2011. Tendulkar scored 111 runs off 101 balls with eight boundaries and three sixes.

With this century, he is just one century away from a century of centuries – he has 51 Test centuries and 48 ODI centuries.

Tendulkar came out to bat with great determination on the VCA pitch knowing that it was full of runs. It was just a matter of connecting the ball and finding the gaps that was to be done. He did both the things to perfection. He started off faster than his opening partner Virender Sehwag.

He was timing the ball extremely well and was placing the ball to perfection. It was only on two occasions that he could not find the gap and hit the ball straight to the fielder. As always, Tendulkar was a treat to watch for the Indian fans. Honestly speaking, Sehwag is known to be more glamorous and more attacking than Tendulkar.

Tendulkar rarely shows his vintage form. Over the years, he has learnt to play risk-free cricket. But in this match, he outplayed his partner in every department. It can be gauged from the fact that Sehwag consumed 44 balls to reach his half-century while Tendulkar required only 33 balls to do the same. In his 50 runs, Tendulkar hit five fours and one six.

However, the scoring rate dropped dramatically once the wicket of Sehwag fell. Gautam Gambhir took time to settle down and there were instances when India could score only one run in an over. This had an impact on Sachin’s batting as well. To reach to his century from the 50 run mark, he consumed as many as 59 balls. Overall in 92 balls, he reached his 48th One Day International century.

He was finally dismissed for 111 runs in 101 balls.

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