Tendulkar played an excellant knock of 111 in 101 balls, including eight fours and three sixes against South Africa at Nagpur on Saturday.The century was his 99th in international cricket, his 48th in One-Day International cricket, fifth against South Africa, second of the tournament and first at the ground in Nagpur.
Sachin moved to his half century like the breeze in Nagpur off just 33 balls.
When Gambhir joined him, Sachin didn't stop, allowing the left-hander from Delhi to settle.
He did take a breather while in the eighties but not for long, hitting du Plessis for a four to move from 89 to 93, his seventh boundary of the innings to go along with his three towering sixes.
The crowd started the 'Sachin...Sachin' cheer as the master took strike on 96, expecting their favourite son to reach the milestone with one stroke and allow them to breathe easy.
Smith brought on Steyn, Gambhir took a single and the master was back on strike, at 98. Crowd cheered on but the master had things under control. He took a single to take a few deep breaths at the non-striker end.
The cheers became louder as Gambhir gave the strike back to Sachin the very next ball. Sachin, at 99, just punched the ball through the covers to bring his 48th ODI ton, sixth in World Cups.
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