Cricket: Emotion runs high as Tendulkar cuts loose

BRISTOL - Sachin Tendulkar has scored some memorable centuries, but probably none was more emotional than his unbeaten 140 for India against Kenya in the World Cup yesterday.

It was hardly surprising that the 26-year-old diminutive batsman raised his eyes to the heavens when he scored his 100th run as India smashed a huge 329 for two wickets in their 50 overs.

He had to overcome the emotional drama of the death of his father a few days earlier and the physical fatigue of flying to India and back in the space of four days, arriving in Bristol just 24 hours before playing against Kenya.

Admittedly the bowling was some of the weakest he will ever meet, the pitch was flat and one of the boundaries was ridiculously close to the pitch.

But the innings that Tendulkar put together was flawless in its controlled aggression. Joining Rahul Dravid with the score on 92 for two in the 21st over, he cruised to his 50 in 54 balls, hitting a relatively modest four fours and one six.

Tendulkar then savaged the feeble Kenyan bowling, smashing his second 50 in just 30 balls for an 84-ball century. He then took just 17 balls to hit his last 40 runs to finish with a glorious innings of 140 in 101 balls that featured 16 fours and three sixes.

Pity poor Dravid, batting sublimely himself at the other end for his second one-day international century, but eclipsed by the man who has achieved god-like status in India. Dravid's century took only 110 balls and included 10 fours.

Dravid and Tendulkar set a World Cup record partnership of 237, beating the previous best of 207 set in 1996 by Australian twins Steve and Mark Waugh. Kenya were the victims on that occasion as well.

Neither batsmen offered a serious chance and both moved to their half-centuries largely by taking a single from just about every ball. It was only after they had both hit 50s that they accelerated.

It was at this stage that Tendulkar showed his entire repertoire of strokes, including a reverse sweep for four, straight drives and faint leg glances that taunted the Kenyan fielders.

Soon after arriving back in England on Sunday, Tendulkar was in the nets, smashing his team's best bowlers around with a concentration that belied the fact that he had just stepped off a long flight.

His voice breaking with emotion, Tendulkar said his mother had persuaded him to return to the World Cup and win for his father.

"I just have to go in there and think of my father looking down at me," he said.

Little wonder, then, that Tendulkar raised his eyes to the skies as first he reached his 50 and then his century.

From the last ball of India's innings, Tendulkar casually lofted a six over mid-wicket and at the same time passed his previous World Cup best score of 137.

But it will be for other reasons that he remembers the overcast day in Bristol in 1999.