Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test hundreds: Centuries 6-10
Sachin Tendulkar is statistically the greatest batsman to have played the sport with the most number of runs in international cricket and the only player to have scored 100 international centuries. In Tests, the Little Master is the highest run-scorer with nearly 16,000 runs to his name.
Tendulkar has a number of records in Tests including the only player to have more than 50 Test centuries. Tendulkar’s centuries in Test match cricket more than often helped India to at least rescue the match.
Having already read about his first five centuries, let’s read about his next five Test centuries.
#1. 6th century- 104* against Sri Lanka at Colombo, 1993
The first Test of India’s tour to Sri Lanka ended in a draw mainly due to rain preventing play for most of the match, making it the shortest Test match ever. The second Test was held at Colombo and skipper Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and opted to bat first.
In the first innings, India put up 366 thanks to Vinod Kambli’s 125 and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 82. In reply, Sri Lanka could only score 254 thanks to an 88 by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga. Anil Kumble took 5 wickets for 87.
In the second innings, Manoj Prabhakar and Sidhu gave India a brilliant start by putting up an opening stand of 171. The partnership was broken after Prabhakar departed for 95. No.3 Vinod Kambli was out early and Sachin Tendulkar came in to bat.
Tendulkar was batting rather steadily compared to Sidhu. He added 87 for the third wicket before Sidhu departed for 104. The 19-year-old Tendulkar was comfortably getting the better of the Sri Lankan bowlers and built another 50+ partnership, this time with Azharuddin.
Pravin Amre came in to join Tendulkar just as he was closing in on his century. He eventually got to his hundred. India declared on 359/4 and Tendulkar remained unbeaten on 104 from 161 deliveries as the visitors set Sri Lanka 472 for victory. India went on to win the match by 235 runs.