STATE CORNER – Sachin Tendulkar became the first ever batsman to score 18,000 runs in limited oves international cricket. The legendary batsman reached this milestone during his 53-run knock in the second quarter final of the 10th World Cup against Australia at Sardar Patel Stadium. It was 440th innings of his 451st match. Sachin Tendulkar, who made his one day international debut against Pakistan at Gujranwala on December 18, 1989, took 21 years and 96 days to reach this landmark.
Ricky Ponting became the second batsman after India’s Sachin Tendulkar to score five or centuries in World Cup. The Australian skipper achieved this feat by making 104 off 118 balls with seven fours. Ponting scored his fifth century in the World Cup in the 42nd innings of 46th match. It was his 30th hundred in 349 innings of 359 one day international matches. Tendulkar who scored six hundreds in 42 innings of 43 matches, holds the record of scoring the most number of centuries in World Cup. The champion batsman also became the second player after Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya (seven hundreds in 85 innings of 89 matches) to score six or more hundreds in one day internationals.
Zaheer Khan became the fourth Indian on five occasions and 25th player overall on 26 occasions to take three of more catches in an innings of World Cup. India’s Virender Sehwag is the only fielder to do the same twice, against Holland at Paarl on February 12, 2003, and against England at Durban on February 26, 2003. India’s Mohammed Kaif, who took four catches against Sri Lanka at Johannesburg on March 10, 2003, holds the record of most catches in World Cup. Yuvraj Singh became the fourth Indian and 23rd batsman overall to score 8000 runs in one day internationals. The left hand middle order batsman achieved this feat after completing 30 runs during his knock. It was 250th innings of 272nd match in international cricket.
