RACING: India's Sachin Tendulkar smashed a record-equalling fourth World Cup century yesterday but found himself in the rare position of playing a supporting role to an unheralded Canadian journeyman.
As Tendulkar was making 152 and his skipper Sourav Ganguly an unbeaten 112 against Namibia in Pietermaritzburg, 32-year-old John Davison was on his way to the fastest ever World Cup century against the West Indies at Centurion.
Davison, who was eventually out for 111 in a total of 202, faced just 67 balls for his hundred, breaking the 20-year-old World Cup record set by India's Kapil Dev, who needed just 72 balls for his ton against Zimbabwe in England in 1983.
However, it was all in vain as the West Indies coasted to a seven-wicket win in the 12th over with Brian Lara hitting a whirlwind 73. Still, the performance by Canada was commendable. They are use to setting records after being bowled out last time for 36 (the lowest one-day total in history).
"I didn't have any great plan to go out there and set the place alight. It was just a great track to bat on but then the Windies hit us really hard," said Davison whose hundred, the first by a Canadian in a one-day international, was also the joint fifth fastest in limited overs history.
He hit six sixes and eight fours in his 76-ball innings before he was eventually out for 111, brilliantly caught by Vasbert Drakes.
In Pietermaritzburg, Tendulkar and Ganguly made light of the Namibian attack to set up a 181-run win for India in Group A.
Tendulkar's 34th one-day century and Ganguly's 20th came during a run-a-ball stand of 244 for the second wicket as India piled up 311-2 after being sent to bat in overcast conditions.
Namibia found India's spin too hot to handle and folded up for 130 in 42.3 overs to suffer their fourth consecutive defeat.
Part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh was the unlikely star, claiming four wickets for six runs.
India's third win in four matches still left them the task of beating both England and arch rivals Pakistan to ensure a place in the Super Sixes.
"It was important to put runs on the board. Sachin and I got them and that's good for the team," Ganguly said.
"The ball did a bit at first but the wicket was slow."
Tendulkar's ton emulated Australian Mark Waugh's feat of four World Cup hundreds and put the Indian star's amazing batting records even beyond the reach of other contemporary batsmen.
Ganguly moved to second place behind Tendulkar with 20 hundreds, surpassing Pakistani Saeed Anwar's tally of 19.
India next play England under lights at Durban on Wednesday but Nasser Hussain's men could be without premier batsman Michael Vaughan who picked up a calf strain in Saturday's win over Pakistan.
Meanwhile, security chiefs are going to great lengths to prevent ambush marketing of the tournament. Two men were refused entry to a match at Pietermaritzburg because the shorts they were wearing carried an Adidas logo. They were eventually allowed to enter the stadium on one condition - they had to wear their shorts inside out!
