Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 not out against South Africa in the second one day International at Gwalior on February 24, 2010 is a pioneering record. Tendulkar scored the first double hundred in ODI history , hitting 25 fours and 3 sixes in the unbeaten 147-ball knock at an amazing strike rate of 136.05. It was a flawless innings with wristy and powerful shots all round the wicket and a remarkable display of stamina to bat through the innings.
PREVIOUS RECORDS
Ever since the one day international (ODI) cricket matches got started in the 1970s, a century in an ODI match has been considered a major achievement. The first ODI was played between England and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 5, 1971. The first ODI century was scored by the English batsman Dennis Amiss, when he scored 103 against Australia in Manchester on August 24, 1972, about one and a half years after the ODIs were started. Amiss, an attacking batsman, scored 103 in 134 balls hitting 9 fours. Since then, the batsmen have vied to score more and more runs in the ODIs.
On June 18, 1983, India and Zimbabwe played a group stage ODI in the Cricket World Cup at Tunbridge Wells, England. Batting first, India were quickly 5 wickets down for 17 runs. Kapil Dev played an innings of a lifetime and scored 175 not out in 138 balls, hitting 16 fours and six sixes. About a year later, on May 31, 1984, in a match between West Indies and England played at Old Trafford, Manchester, Vivian Richards scored 189 not out in 170 balls hitting 21 fours and 5 sixes. This record stayed for quite sometime until on May 21, 1997, Saeed Anwar scored 194 in 146 balls, hitting 22 fours and 5 sixes for Pakistan against India at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai. Anwar broke Richards’ record, which had stood for almost 13 years. On August 16, 2009, Charles Coventry of Zimbabwe scored 194 not out against Bangladesh at Bulawayo and equaled the record. Coventry hit 16 fours and 7 sixes in his 156-ball knock.
DOUBLE HUNDRED – AN ELUSIVE BARRIER
For the last 40 years, people have wondered whether a batsman would score a 200 in ODIs. The progress of the batting record in ODIs has been steady – first scores in 170s, then 180s and 190s and finally the coveted 200 mark. The 200 mark has been some kind of an elusive barrier, with people wondering whether it would ever happen or not. So it is a pioneering record and a great achievement. And it is time for all cricket loving people to savor it,
