Century No 91
100 vs South Africa at Nagpur, on Feb 9, 2010
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat. They reached a huge total of 588 before declaring. India managed a small total of 233 in their first innings and were forced to take a follow on where they only scored 319 runs. Sachin’s knock was therefore the only small saving grace as South Africa went on to win the match by an innings and 6 runs.
Score: 100
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V South Africa, 1st test
Venue: Nagpur (Jamtha)
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 6 runs
It was an effort that went in vain for the little master. South Africa dictated this match from start to finish and despite a fighting century by Sachin in the second innings, India failed to avoid innings defeat.
Century No 92
106 vs South Africa at Kolkata, on Feb 15, 2010
After losing to South Africa in the first match of the Test series, it was time for India to seek redemption and that is what they did. South Africa batted first and reached a total of 296. India then came in to bat and posted a staggering total of 643, with due credit to Sachin’s knock of 106 runs. South Africa were bowled out for 290 in their second innings and India won the match
Score: 106
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V South Africa, 2nd test
Venue: Kolkata
Result: India won by an innings and 57 runs
It is never easy to bounce back in test cricket after facing an innings defeat only a few days back. But, India did just that in style at Eden Gardens. Sachin was the lone warrior at Nagpur but he had many for support at Kolkata. After bowling out South Africa for under 300, India rallied on four centurions including Sachin’s 106 to reach 643 and that was it.
Century No 93
200 not out vs South Africa at Gwalior, on Feb 24, 2010
In a crunch game came a world record innings by Tendulkar who became the first batsman in the history of one day cricket to score a double century. India put up a mammoth total, crushed the Proteas by 153 runs and won the series.
Score: 200*
Series: Bilateral ODI series, 2010
Match: India V South Africa, 2nd ODI
Venue: Gwalior
Result: India won by 153 runs
The greatest ODI inning of all time. When Saeed Anwar reached 194, many had thought cricket will have to wait for generations for that record to be broken. The wait was there but not for that long. When the record was broken, it was the sweetest moment for Sachin and Indian cricket. Sachin’s 200 and India’s 401 will be remembered forever.
Century No 94
203 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, on Jul 28, 2010
Sri Lanka opened the innings and posted an intimidating total of 642. But India performed admirably, matching and then bettering the Lankan challenge with a total of 707. Sachin Tendulkar scored in the innings making 203 runs, helped by Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina who scored 99 and 120 respectively. The match was drawn finally.
Score: 203
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V Sri Lanka, 2nd test
Venue: SSC, Colombo
Result: Match drawn
It was a gritty effort from the little master and came when the team was under pressure. Sri Lanka had notched up 642 on an excellent batting surface and when India was reduced to 241 for 4, there were chances of a follow-on. That’s when Sachin and Raina took control and thwarted Lankan aspirations. Sachin scored a doubled hundred in nearly 9 hours of great concentration.
Century No 95
214 vs Australia at Bangalore, on Oct 11, 2010
Australia won the toss and chose to bat, reaching a total of 478. India responded well to the Australian challenge by reaching 496. While M Vijay scored 139, it was Sachin’s 214 double century knock which really set the pace. The Australians in their second innings were bowled out for 223 leaving the hosts a target of 207 to win. India won the match with Sachin scoring another half century.
Score: 214
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V Australia, 2nd test
Venue: Bangalore
Result: India won by 7 wickets
What a masterly effort from the master blaster. This was the month when he was conferred the ICC Cricketer of the Year award for the year 2010. After an epic clash in the first test at Mohali, which India won by 1 wicket, the Chinnaswamy encounter was turning out to be another pulsating one. After conceding 478 in the first innings, India was in a spot of bother at 38 for 2 before Sachin played a magical knock. His 214 was laced with 22 fours and 2 sixes. In the end, Aussies were left wondering why even 478 was not enough to win a test!
Century No 96
111 not out vs South Africa at Cape Town, on Dec 19, 2010
The Indians were put to bat and were all out for a dismal score of 136 while the South Africans romped in a huge total of 620 runs. India fought hard to reach a total of 459, with Sachin Tendulkar scoring a century. However his efforts were in vain as India did not manage to pull off a victory here.
Score: 111*
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V South Africa, 1st test
Venue: Centurion
Result: South Africa won by an innings and 25 runs
It was an inauspicious start for India to their ‘final frontier’ campaign. Batting first on damp Centurion wicket, India folded up for just 136. The Proteas then carved out 620 thanks to a double hundred by Kallis and two other centurions. India then tried hard to hang in for a draw but the task was way too enormous. Sachin fought in vain with his 50th test century but that was the only takeaway from an otherwise miserable match.
Century No 97
146 vs South Africa at Cape Town, on Jan 4, 2011
India started their second innings at the Centurion stadium chasing a score of 484 and being reduced to 277 for 6 at the time. It was then that Tendulkar along with MS Dhoni held fort at the crease, and the Master Blaster’s century changed India’s game, clinching a victory for the team.
Score: 146
Series: Bilateral test series, 201
Match: India V South Africa, 1st test
Venue: Cape Town
Result: Match drawn
After registering one of their finest triumphs, India came to Cape Town with a chance to win a series on South African soil for the first time ever. And the quest began in fine fashion with Sachin scoring a magnificent 146 in nearly 8 hours. Given a tough target of 340 runs to win their maiden series on South African soil, India decided not to take the risk of losing the match. The two teams settled for a draw.
Century No 98
120 vs England at Bangalore, on Feb 27, 2011
Sachin opened the innings with Sehwag and began slowly. But he accelerated at the right time to finish with 120 runs which included three massive sixes. The Indian bowlers couldn’t defend the 338-run target their batsmen set and the match ended in a tie.
Score: 120
Series: World Cup 2011
Match: India V England, Group B
Venue: Bangalore
Result: Match tied
It was a world cup classic. Led by Sachin’s superb 120, India made a mammoth 338, which was laced with 5 towering sixes in a relatively small Chinnaswamy stadium. Strauss and Zaheer Khan later stole the show with the bat and the ball as the match ended in an absorbing tie.
Century No 99
111 vs South Africa at Nagpur, on March 12, 2011
India took on South Africa in a crunch game in Nagpur as Sachin went on to score his 99th international century. His 111 was crucial but India lost nine wickets for 29 runs and eventually handed the match to South Africa in the last over.
Score: 111
Series: World Cup 2011
Match: India V South Africa, Group B
Venue: Nagpur (Jamtha)
Result: South Africa won by 3 wickets
This was another occasion when India failed to capitalise on a great start provided by Sachin Tendulkar. Sehwag and Sachin had put on 142 for the opening wicket in just 17 overs. While that should have been platform enough to get a score of at least 325, India managed just 296 and went on to lose the match. Needless to say, Sachin’s effort of 111 from 101 balls went in vain.
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