Tale of two tons: Sachin,Strauss record feats

Tendulkar made his fifth World Cup century.

The decibel levels reached a crescendo when that now-familiar sight of Sachin Tendulkars raised hands holding a bat and helmet,followed by his routine look at the skies unfolded at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Tendulkar made his fifth World Cup century. A few hours later there was near-pin drop silence when England skipper Andrew Strauss raised his bat towards the England dressing room as he responded to Tendulkars 120 by going past 150 and finishing off at 158.

It was the highest score by an English batsman at the World Cup,and if not for Zaheer Khans reverse-swing generated collapse,which helped India wrest back the initiative and earn a tie,Strausss innings could have taken the wind out of the sails of Indias World Cup campaign.

But for the fans,who first braved the lathis to purchase tickets and then queued up four hours before the game to get through the rigours of security checks just in time to watch him bat,Sachin Tendulkar brought more than just the smiles and claps back to the stadium. He also managed to give a real foundation to talks of the Sachin Cup,one which Strausss innings in the second half of the game nearly ripped apart.

Story continues below this ad

Though the lower-order of both the teams collapsed,Tendulkar and then Strauss made this match a batting treat. Strauss bagged the Man-of-the-Match award,while Tendulkar readied in style for his final and best shot at ligting the elusive trophy.

His fellow players too,such as skipper MS Dhoni,Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag,were quoted as saying during their dime-a-dozen promos before the Cup that they would like to do it for Tendulkar. In the second match of his record-equalling sixth World Cup appearance,the 115-ball 120 was his fifth century (going one above Sourav Ganguly,Ricky Ponting and Mark Waugh for most centuries in the once-in-four-years event) in the event. In the process,he also edged a step closer to the hundred 100s mark,now just two shy off the record of records.

For it was an innings that started watchfully against the seamers,only to flare up mid-way through the innings. He made the best off-spinner in the world Graeme Swann look ridiculously ordinary,hitting him for three sixes two of them in succession with the turn,one over long-on and other swatted over mid-wicket picking 31 off the 23 deliveries that he faced off him.

Tendulkar didnt spare Paul Collingwoods dibbly-dobbly off-cutters either,smacking him for two maximums. Between Collingwood and Swann,Tendulkar scored all his rope-clearing hits. Strauss made the entire India bowling line up look out of depth during his 145-ball stay. That was till Zaheer turned the tide.