London: Sachin Tendulkar’s astounding achievement of becoming the first cricketer to score a double century in a one-dayer was on Thursday hailed by the British media, which described the little master as the “finest batsman” ever.

“Tendulkar underlined his sensational class with a double century in Gwalior. To have reached such a landmark, with a single in the final over, only serves to underline his class and add to the legacy that already surrounds arguably the finest batsman to have played the game,” BBC Sports said. “His innings, the 46th one-day century of his career, was typified by wristy strokes, trademark boundary shots and, above all, stamina as he batted through the entire innings.”

Meanwhile, The Times said that this could just be the greatest year of Sachin’s career while anticipating whether the Indian can complete a century of centuries in international cricket by the end of this year.

“All kneel down and praise whatever God you fancy for the mighty Sachin Tendulkar. This could just be turning into the greatest year of his international career, more than 20 years after it began,” the report said. “Tendulkar now has 93 hundreds in international cricket – 47 in Tests and 46 in ODIs – which is 25 more than the next best man, Ricky Ponting. At the age of 36 and in such great form, he could reach 100 hundreds by the end of the year.”

Tendulkar on Wednesday became the first batsman in the four-decade history of ODIs to hammer a double ton as his 200 not out helped India pile up a mammoth 401 for three against South Africa and beat the visitors by 153 runs in the second one-dayer.

Daily Mail termed the innings as “sensational” in their report. “Sensational Sachin Tendulkar smashes world record one-day innings and first ever double hundred for India,” the headline goes.

In another report, The Guardian opined that this innings should put an end to any doubts that any one has about Sachin’s fitness and form. “The blazing innings comes 10 months after his 36th birthday and four years after he was booed off his home ground in Mumbai, with his career apparently on terminal decline. Somewhat improbably given today’s innings, the abuse had been for slow scoring,” the daily said.

Tagged with: BBC Sports, british media, Daily Mail, London, Sachin Tendulkar, The Guardian

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