Record-breaker Tendulkar enjoys 'wonderful moment'

FE Team | Published: July 01, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

BELFAST, Jun 30 (AFP): Sachin Tendulkar savoured a "wonderful moment" after adding a new chapter to his record-breaking career by becoming the first batsman to score 15,000 one-day international runs.
Tendulkar reached the landmark while making 93 in India's six-wicket win against South Africa at Stormont here Friday, a victory which levelled the three-match series at 1-1 ahead of Sunday's finale at the Belfast ground.
His innings left Tendulkar with a one-day international career record of 15,043 runs in 387 matches at an average of 44.24 with 41 hundreds.
To put that in context, his nearest pursuer in the list of all-time leading one-day international run scorers is Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya with 12,063 in 395 matches.
"It is satisfying, a wonderful moment," the 34-year-old Tendulkar told reporters after stumps. "This match was extremely important for us, to keep us alive in the series. It's obviously a happy feeling, especially when we ended up on a winning note."
But Tendulkar, who made his debut as a 16-year-old, said the record had simply been the result of a long career. "After playing for 18 years, I feel it's just one of those things."
Nicknamed the 'Little Master', the diminutive Tendulkar dominated a first- wicket partnership of 134 with experienced left-hander and fellow former captain Sourav Ganguly, who made 42.
"I thought looking at the conditions, to counter-attack was the best option. "It wasn't that we were playing pre-determined shots. We were picking the lengths. We played positively - and that is what was needed."
Tendulkar, who holds the record for Test hundreds with 37, produced some trademark strokes during the course of his innings, notably straight drives down the ground achieved with a minimum of effort.
Sachin Tendulkar (IND) 387 15,043 37 186 no 44.24 Sanath Jayasuriya (SRI/Asia) 395 12,063 18 189 32.95
Inzamam-ul-Haq (PAK) 378 11,739 53 137 no 39.52
Sourav Ganguly (IND) 294 10,880 23 183 41.68 Brian Lara (WIS) 299 10,405 32 169 40.48
Ricky Ponting (AUS) 280 10,395 32 164 43.31Rahul Dravid (IND) 318 10,265 38 153 40.09
Mohammad Azharrudin (IND) 334 9,378 54 153 no 36.92
Aravinda de Silva (SRI) 308 9,284 30 145 34.90
Jacques Kallis (RSA) 260 9,144 46 139 45.72