Tendulkar struggles but sets a slew of records

Chandigarh, Oct 8 (UNI) Sachin Tendulkar today became the batsman with the highest number of half centuries in one-day internationals (ODI) during his 79-run knock in the fourth ODI of the seven-match series against Australia here.

Playing his 399th match, the master blaster surpassed former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq's 83 fifties from 378 matches when he took two runs off the second delivery of the 32nd over bowled by Andrew Symonds.

His team-mate and former captain Rahul Dravid is not far behind with 81 fifties from 330 matches.

The master blaster also re-wrote a slew of records despite having to live a charmed life during his 182-minute vigilance at the crease. Umpires turned down at least two appeals which television replays showed he was out. He consumed 119 balls to score 79, hitting seven boundaries.

The 1997 Wisden Cricketer of the Year also became the highest run getter against Australia in one-dayers with 2321 runs from 51 matches, surpassing West Indian Desmond Haynes, who scored 2262 in 64 games against the world champions.

Tendulkar also became the Indian batsman with most number of 1000-plus runs in a calendar year when he reached 53, the seventh in his 18-year career, one more than his opening partner Sourav Ganguly.

Ganguly who has also crossed the mark in the current calendar year has compiled 1065 runs in 25 matches, while Tendulkar has 1026 from the same number of games.

Tendulkar and Ganguly also equalled the Australian opening pair Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden's 42 fifty-plus partnerships during their 91-run stand.

The Indian duo have now 42 fifty-plus run stands to their credit -- 20 100-plus and 22 fifty partnerships. Hayden and Gilchrist have 16 100-plus and 26 fifty-plus partnerships.

Tendulkar and Ganguly though have far more runs -- 6362 from 129 innings -- than West Indians Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes who have 5150 from 102 innings between them.

Gilchrist and Hayden are third with 5091 runs from 104 innings.

UNI