Tendulkar scores landmark century of centuries

Tendulkar, who is now in the 23rd year of his international career had been searching for this century since 12 March 2011.

Sachin Tendulkar scored his 49th one-day century and the 100th ton of his illustrious international career against Bangladesh at Dhaka in the fourth match of the Asia Cup today. 

Tendulkar, who is now in the 23rd year of his international career had been searching for this landmark century since 12 March 2011.

India lost the wicket of Gautam Gambhir in the sixth over of the match when Shafiul Islam clean bowled the left-handed opening batsman; but Tendulkar and Virat Kohli (66) then added  148 runs for the second wicket to set the platform for their team to get to a match-winning total and book their berth in the final of the tournament.

Tendulkar scored his half-century in 63 balls with a lofted drive over extra cover off Shakib Al Hasan; this was also his first 50 since the 85 he scored against Pakistan in the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup. Tendulkar, who was the first batsman to score a double century in ODIs, reached the thee-figure mark when he took a single from Shakib Al Hasan's bowling in the 44th over of India's innings.

Tendulkar scored his first international century - 119* - against England at Old Trafford in August 1990; while his first ODI century (110) came against Australia at Colombo on 9 September 1994.

He scored the 99th century of his career against South Africa at Nagpur during the 2011 World Cup, but had failed to get to the three-figure mark in his last 33 innings.

Tendulkar scored 12 centuries in 2008 - the most he has in a career. He has scored eight centuries in three different years (1996, 1999 and 2010).