Virender Sehwag hits world record 219 against Windies

Bat and ball / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 08 December 2011 / Leave a Comment

Sehwag reaches 200 for only the second time ever in an ODI

"Sehwag, the stand-in skipper in the absence of the rested MS Dhoni, hit 25 boundaries and seven maximums after he won the toss and chose to bat first. His score overtook that of Sachin Tendulkar as the highest ever in an ODI and was just the second time in history that a batsman reached 200 in an international limited-overs match."

Virender Sehwag overtook Sachin Tendulkar's 200 as he smashed 219 to set a new world record for the highest individual score in an ODI.

Virender Sehwag broke the world record for an individual score in an ODI by smashing 219 off just 149 balls against the West Indies this afternoon as India set the tourists a daunting 418 to win the Fourth ODI.

Sehwag, the stand-in skipper in the absence of the rested MS Dhoni, hit 25 boundaries and seven maximums after he won the toss and chose to bat first. His score overtook that of Sachin Tendulkar as the highest ever in an ODI and was just the second time in history that a batsman reached 200 in an international limited-overs match. It was also India's highest-ever total in an ODI. The knock was even more remarkable given that it came on the back of a first-ball duck in the 3rd ODI played on Monday.

In truth, if Tendulkar's previous record was ever to be broken, this was as good a chance as any to do it. The wicket at Indore is a fabulous batting track, the ground is a small one and the West Indies' bowling attack is hardly the strongest in world cricket. India's total also included half-centuries for Gautam Gambhir, both of whom were run out by their captain. But that's not to take anything away from Sehwag, who looked more focussed and determined than at any stage during this ODI Series from the very first ball. He was eventually caught by substitute fielder Anthony Martin off the bowling of Kieron Pollard but not before he set a record that will certainly take some beating.