Sachin Tendulkar’s availability for the fourth one day international remains in doubt after the Master Blaster cracked a majestic unbeaten century but had to retire hurt towards the end of Indian innings in the third ODI against New Zealand.
The Indian veteran filled the gap in his exhaustive resume when he scored 163 runs before retiring hurt in the third one-day cricket international against New Zealand on Sunday.
The century was Tendulkar's 43rd in one-day internationals and his 91st in all forms of cricket for India but was his first in limited-overs matches in New Zealand.
Tendulkar said he suffered bruising when he was struck in the abdomen by New Zealand medium pacer Iain O'Brien during the second match of the five-match series at Wellington on Friday.
"In the previous game I got hit in my abdomen by O'Brien and the muscle was quite sore," he said.
"When I was batting with 65-70 (in the third ODI), I started feeling stiffness in that area. But towards the latter half of my innings I started getting a twitch and it kept getting worse. And I knew that I was effectively damaging it and I had reached a stage when I couldn't go on."
He underwent an ultrasound scan at a local hospital on Monday. The findings of the scan were not revealed, but it is believed that the extent of damage in his abdomen was not as bad it had been expected to be.
Tendulkar added that he was very pleased to get his first hundred on Kiwi soil.
"I've always wanted to get a hundred here," Tendulkar said. "I remember way back in 1994 when I started opening the batting for India in one-dayers my first match I scored 80-odd runs and that was probably the closest I've got to scoring a hundred here.
"I felt pretty good in Wellington (in the second ODI). There were a few interruptions with the rain and I thought I lost momentum there. But here (Christchurch) there was no interruption fortunately and I could manage to play some good shots."
Tendulkar said he believed a double century might have been possible before he was forced the leave the field with an abdominal injury in the 45th over as India amassed 392 for four, the highest one-day total in New Zealand. India won by 58 runs.
"Towards the end I was hopeful that I could get a double hundred if I could stay there till the 50th over. It was in the vicinity," he said.
India currently leads the five-match ODI series 2-0.
The Indian veteran filled the gap in his exhaustive resume when he scored 163 runs before retiring hurt in the third one-day cricket international against New Zealand on Sunday.
The century was Tendulkar's 43rd in one-day internationals and his 91st in all forms of cricket for India but was his first in limited-overs matches in New Zealand.
Tendulkar said he suffered bruising when he was struck in the abdomen by New Zealand medium pacer Iain O'Brien during the second match of the five-match series at Wellington on Friday.
"In the previous game I got hit in my abdomen by O'Brien and the muscle was quite sore," he said.
"When I was batting with 65-70 (in the third ODI), I started feeling stiffness in that area. But towards the latter half of my innings I started getting a twitch and it kept getting worse. And I knew that I was effectively damaging it and I had reached a stage when I couldn't go on."
He underwent an ultrasound scan at a local hospital on Monday. The findings of the scan were not revealed, but it is believed that the extent of damage in his abdomen was not as bad it had been expected to be.
Tendulkar added that he was very pleased to get his first hundred on Kiwi soil.
"I've always wanted to get a hundred here," Tendulkar said. "I remember way back in 1994 when I started opening the batting for India in one-dayers my first match I scored 80-odd runs and that was probably the closest I've got to scoring a hundred here.
"I felt pretty good in Wellington (in the second ODI). There were a few interruptions with the rain and I thought I lost momentum there. But here (Christchurch) there was no interruption fortunately and I could manage to play some good shots."
Tendulkar said he believed a double century might have been possible before he was forced the leave the field with an abdominal injury in the 45th over as India amassed 392 for four, the highest one-day total in New Zealand. India won by 58 runs.
"Towards the end I was hopeful that I could get a double hundred if I could stay there till the 50th over. It was in the vicinity," he said.
India currently leads the five-match ODI series 2-0.
AP with Sportz Interactive inputs
Monday, March 09, 2009 5:44:20 PM
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