One year and five days since he scored his 99th international century, Sachin Tendulkar reached the unprecedented landmark of 100. For over a year a legion of fans had watched in anticipation as Tendulkar strode to the crease in India, England and Australia, and at 17:07 local time, when he nudged towards square leg for a single, there was a collective release of emotions.

Tendulkar, 38, had been stuck on 99 international centuries since March 12, 2011 when he scored a century against South Africa during the World Cup. During the time he took to move from 99 to 100, so much has changed for the Indian cricket team. In the last 12 months they have won the World Cup, slipped form their No. 1 perch in the ICC’s Test rankings, been whitewashed in consecutive overseas Test tours, failed to make the finals of a tri-series, and have seen Rahul Dravid make his exit from the international scene.

In those 12 months, Tendulkar’s batting returns had also diminished. In 11 Tests he has scored 778 runs at an average of 37.04, with a best of 94. He came close to scoring that a hundred a couple other times too; at The Oval he made 91 and in Sydney he reached 80. That innings of 94 was the best chance he had of getting to three figures – Tendulkar came out on the fourth morning in Mumbai in robust mood – but an unwarranted dab to third man ended up in the slips.

Tendulkar did not play an ODI since the World Cup final on April 2, 2011 until he was named in India’s squad for the CB Series after the Test debacle in Australia. That period included four ODI contests, against West Indies and England home and away. Injury played its part, with Tendulkar being ruled out of the ODI leg in England. In 12 ODIs since that century in Nagpur Tendulkar had made 307 runs at 25.58, with his best shot at the 100th hundred being his chancy 85 against Pakistan in the World Cup semi-final. He had not crossed 48 since then, until today.

Tendulkar’s 100th century was a fluent innings, which began a brilliant cover drive for four in the second over of India’s innings in Mirpur. His cutting and driving was especially eye-catching, and the way he maneuvered the Bangladesh spinners was masterful. His half-century came up with a lofted boundary over extra, off the 63 balls, and three figures came in the 44th over, off 138 deliveries and with ten fours and one six.

Upon reaching three figures, Tendulkar closed his eyes and looked up to the skies as he has so many times before this. And yes, a big sigh of relief.

India started their Asia Cup campaign on a winning note as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 50 runs at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

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Irfan Pathan dismissed Upul Tharanga to give Sri Lanka the eighth blow, bringing India close to victory in the Asia Cup clash at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

This came after Vinay Kumar dismissed Nuwan Kulasekara and Chamara Kapugedera in successive deliveries to dent Sri Lanka chase.

Ravichandran Ashwin scalped Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne to put India on top.

Sangakkara played a patient knock of 65 that came in 87 balls included two fours and a six. Four balls later Ashwin struck to claim his third wicket he caught Thirimanne plumb in front of the wicket.

Irfan Pathan and Ravichandran Ashwin struck to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene and Dinesh Chandimal respectively in the Asia Cup clash against Sri Lanka at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Ashwin claimed in-form Chandimal to take his first wicket and gave India their third wicket. Chandimal could manage to score 13 runs.

Pathan removed dangerous Mahela Jayawardene to get India back into the match after the batsman entertained with his 78 off just 59 balls, smashing 10 boundaries and two huge sixes. Skipper also added 93 runs stand for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara to lead Sri Lanka chase.

Pathan ended Jayawardene's flamboyant knock when the batsman tried to run it to third man on a widish delivery that went to MS Dhoni's gloves.

Jayawardene took only 40 deliveries to reach his 66th ODI half-century studded with seven fours and two sixes.

The classic pair of Jayawardene and Sangakkara took Sri Lanka past 100 runs in the 15th over to put India on backfoot.

Sri Lanka got off to brisk chase as they scored 30 runs in four overs before losing Tillakaratne Dilshan to Irfan Pathan who provided India first breakthrough.

Earlier, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli notched up tons to steer India to 304/3 in their first match of the Asia Cup campaign.

Late heroics by skipper MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina did the rest after Gambhir and Kohli centuries to post the mammoth total on the board.

Dhoni (46 off 26) and Raina (30 off 17) remained unbeaten, adding 78 runs stand off just 43 balls for the fourth wicket and set Islanders to chase the huge target.

Kolhi slammed the consecutive ton against Sri Lanka after the batsman scored unbeaten hundred to take India to a famous victory in the recently concluded triseries in Australia.

Vice-captain Kohli's 10th ODI ton came in 115 balls that included six fours. Two balls later former vice-captain Gambhir also reached to his 10th ODI hundred in 116 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Kohli also became the quickest batsman to score 10 ODI tons - in just 80 innings and 82 matches.