On This Day in 2011: Master Blaster scored his 99th International ton
On March 12, 2011, during the ICC Cricket World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar achieved his 99th international century in a group-stage match against South Africa at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Opening the batting, Tendulkar scored a masterful 111 runs off 101 balls, featuring eight fours and three sixes. His innings laid a strong foundation for India, who were positioned at 267 for 1 at one stage.
However, following Tendulkar’s dismissal, India experienced a dramatic collapse, losing their remaining nine wickets for just 29 runs, culminating in a total of 296 all out. This collapse underscored the team’s over-reliance on Tendulkar’s contributions.
In response, South Africa successfully chased down the target, securing a three-wicket victory. Despite the loss, Tendulkar’s performance was widely lauded, as he continued to inch closer to the unprecedented milestone of 100 international centuries.
The anticipation for Tendulkar’s 100th century grew exponentially after this match. It took over a year for him to achieve this landmark, which he finally did on March 16, 2012, against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. This period highlighted the immense pressure and expectations placed upon him by fans and the cricketing community alike.
Tendulkar’s 99th century remains a significant moment in cricket history, symbolizing not only his exceptional talent and consistency but also the challenges that accompany monumental achievements in sports.
