Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's Test centuries: Centuries 26-30
Sachin Tendulkar scored 51 Test centuries in a glittering career that spanned a period of 24 years and 200 Test matches. A majority of his centuries are etched into the memory of most Indian cricket fans, even though he scored so many of them.
Following his 25th century in the 3rd Test of the epic series against Australia at Chennai in 2001, Tendulkar scored his next five Test centuries in a year's time and one of those helped India script another famous win. The five centuries scored during that period were the work of a batsman at the peak of his powers. Here is a closer look at each of those innings.
#5 155 v South Africa at Bloemfontein, 2001
Following the events of the 1996-97 tour of South Africa, there was widespread belief that India would struggle against them when they toured the country in 2001 and in the very first morning, those fears rang true.
If it were not for Tendulkar and his blazing blade, India would have found themselves in all sorts of trouble. He walked out to bat at 43-2 after openers SS Das and Rahul Dravid had been dismissed but soon found himself running out of partners as India were reduced to 68-4.
In the company of debutant Virender Sehwag, Tendulkar played one of the greatest innings ever managed on South African soil in what was a throwback to his epic 169 against the same opposition in the 1996-97 tour. He put a bowling attack consisting of Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Nantie Hayward and Makhaya Ntini to the sword and hit them all over the park.
Tendulkar's 155 came off only 184 deliveries as he recorded an incredible strike rate of 84.23 and completely dominated the South African bowlers, flaying them for 23 fours and one six. India scored 379 in their first innings but eventually ended up losing the match after South Africa batted them out of the contest. That said, the Test match witnessed one of Tendulkar's finest ever centuries.