Tendulkar’s international centuries vs Zimbabwe : 8. 176 vs Zimbabwe in Nagpur

Eight international centuries against Zimbabwe

Despite being a lower ranked side, Zimbabwe have managed to play some close matches against India. Little Master Sachin Tendulkar has scored eight international centuries against them. Here is a detailed list of all his centuries.

1. 104 vs Zimbabwe in Benoni

February 9, 1997: Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar won the toss and invited Zimbabwe to bat first. Their skipper Alistair Campbell played a captain’s knock of 86 runs and opened the innings in style with Grant Flower (40).

India needed to chase down the total in 40.5 overs to move ahead in the tournament on the basis of net run-rate. Tendulkar was in a different mood and he launched an attack on Zimbabwe bowlers and scored 104 off just 97 balls. India went on to win the match with nine balls remaining.

Result: India won by 6 wickets

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

2. 127* vs Zimbabwe in Bulawayo

September 26, 1998: India were touring Zimbabwe for a 3-match ODI series and one Test match. Zimbabwe posted a score of 213 runs batting first. India lost the wicket of Ganguly early, after which Dravid and Tendulkar added 180 runs for the second wicket. Sachin’s knock comprised of 13 boundaries and a six.

Result: India won by 8 wickets.

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

3. 118* vs Zimbabwe in Sharjah

November 8, 1998: It was another tri-series between India, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. In the second match of the series, Indian bowlers bundled out Zimbabwe for just 196 runs. Tendulkar once again played a crucial knock for his side and single-handedly won the match and clobbered 118 runs off just 112 balls.

Result: India won by 7 wickets

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

4. 124* vs Zimbabwe in Sharjah

November 13, 1998: India were now playing Zimbabwe in the final of the Coca-cola triangular series. Earlier in the series, Zimbabwe paceman Henry Olonga had dismissed Tendulkar for 11 runs and had tried to upset him with short ball on various occasions.

In the final match, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 196 runs. When India came to bat, Tendulkar dominated the proceedings and smashed Olonga to all parts of the ground. The Little Master reached his ton off just 71 balls and India didn’t lose a wicket as the Tendulkar-Ganguly duo guided them to an easy win.

Result: India won by 10 wickets

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

5. 122 vs Zimbabwe in Delhi

November 18, 2000: India were playing a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe on home turf. In the first Test, Zimbabwe batted first and scored 422 runs, courtesy an unbeaten 183-run knock from Andy Flower.

Tendulkar came to bat at number four and added 213 runs for the third wicket with Rahul Dravid, who went on to score his first double ton. The Little Master scored 122 runs from 233 balls that had 19 boundaries. He also scored 39 runs in the second innings.

Result: India won by 7 wickets

6. 201* vs Zimbabwe in Nagpur

November 25, 2000: In the second Test, India once again batted first and put a mammoth total on the board.

Shiv Sunder Das (110) and Rahul Dravid (162) slammed tons but Tendulkar once again stole the show with his second double Test ton. When Ganguly declared the innings on 609/6, Tendulkar was unbeaten on 201. The Master Blaster thus slammed his 50th international ton in style.

Result: Match drawn

7. 146 vs Zimbabwe in Jodhpur

December 8, 2000: India and Zimbabwe were now playing a five-match ODI series.

In the third match, Indian skipper Ganguly was dismissed for 5 after which Sachin and Dravid added 114 runs for third wicket. Indian kept losing wickets at regular intervals but a determined Tendulkar went onto to score 146 runs, as India reached a total of 283.

Result: Zimbabwe won by 1 wicket

8. 176 vs Zimbabwe in Nagpur

India were hosting a two-match Test series against Zimbabwe at home.

February 21, 2002: In the first match, after Zimbabwe were bowled out for 287 runs, Indian batsmen made the best use of the track and posted a score of 570 runs. Shiv Sunder Das (105) and Sanjay Bangar (100) scored centuries, but Tendulkar was the highest scorer for the team with a knock of 176 runs.

Result: India won by an innings and 101 runs