The Group B World Cup clash between India and England ended in a tie after both the teams scored 338 runs at the Chinnaswamy stadium here today.
The target of 339 stood intact as English batsmen managed to fight off a last minute assault from the Indian bowling side. The match was slipping out of Team India’s hands when Zaheer Khan came out with the antidote by picking off Ian Bell and Andrew Strauss.
Zaheer then teamed up with Virat Kohli to send off Bell and then plumed Strauss to launch the India back to the ring.
Earlier, Piyush Chawla trapped Jonathan Trott in front of the stumps to give India the much-needed break. It was Munaf Patel who struck gold first to break England’s opening wicket stand of 68 runs in 9 overs by sending back Kevin Pietersen in their World Cup Group B match on Sunday.
Pietersen and Strauss gave England a sparkling start by sending Indian pacers in all directions. Pietersen’s departure was again plotted by ‘Mr Luck’ for India. Piet launched a powerful shot back at Munaf who was half way on his follow through and, who had no other choice than pick it up.
Sachin Tendulkar once again matched the hopes of an expectant nation with a record-breaking century as India piled up 338 against England in their World Cup Group B match on Sunday.
Tendulkar's 120 saw him become the first batsman to score five centuries in World Cup cricket, claiming outright a record previously shared with India's Sourav Ganguly and the Australian pair of Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
Already the record-holder for most one-day international centuries, Tendulkar's 47th hundred in 446 ODI matches saw him in complete control against England's hapless attack.
Together with Gautam Gambhir he shared a second-wicket stand of 134 at better than a run-a-ball before the left-hander was bowled by off-spinner Graeme Swann for 51.
Their partnership followed the loss of Virender Sehwag, who made 35 to follow his 175 in India's tournament-opening win against fellow co-hosts Bangladesh.
Tendulkar then put on 56 with Yuvraj Singh before he was caught off a leading edge by Michael Yardy at extra cover off Anderson.
"I think that's a great score. I think our batsmen gave a good start," said Yuvraj.
"I think 340 is a good score to defend. It's turning and it's got good bounce," he added.
Tendulkar faced 115 balls with 10 fours and five sixes -- three against Swann and two off
Paul Collingwood's medium-pacers.
Left-hander Yuvraj ensured there was no respite for England with a quickfire 58 against an England attack that missed the variations of Stuart Broad, sidelined through illness.
Anderson -- unable to generate much conventional or reverse swing -- conceded 91 runs in 9.5 overs, unable to stem the flow of runs.
But Tim Bresnan picked up several late wickets when the slog was on to finish with career-best figures of five for 48.
Tendulkar was composed early on before the 37-year-old right-hander struck Collingwood for two sixes -- the second taking him to a 66-ball fifty.
England captain Andrew Strauss rang the changes but it made little difference.
Tendulkar reached his century off 103 balls when he glanced Bresnan for four, a shot greeted by raucous cheers from a near-capacity crowd.
India made one change, opting for a second spinner in leg-break specialist Piyush Chawla and dropping erratic paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.
England brought in Ajmal Shahzad for Broad and Yardy for all-rounder Ravi Bopara as they also opted for two spinners.