India vs Zimbabwe, Harare Sports Club, Harare

• The 99-run partnership between Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar was India's best for the first wicket against Zimbabwe in a World Cup match. The previous best was the 76, between Sunil Gavaskar and Krishnamachari Srikkanth, at Mumbai on 17-10-1987.
• This was only the second opening stand of 99 runs in the World Cup. The Pakistani pair of Majid Khan and Sadiq Mohammad had put on 99 against Australia at Nottingham on 13-6-1979.
• This was also the second such partnership by an Indian opening pair after Sourav Ganguly and Tendulkar too had put on 99 runs against Pakistan at Hobart on 21-1-2000.
• This was the 12th occasion in LOIs where the opening pair had missed a century partnership by just one run. Meanwhile, Sehwag and Tendulkar became the first to record a 99-run partnership for the first wicket against Zimbabwe. The Kiwi pair of Rod Latham and Mark Greatbatch at this venue on 8-11-1992 and the Australian pair of Adam Gilchrist and Mark Waugh at Sydney on 28-1-2001 had put on 98 for the first wicket against the Zimbabweans.
• The above partnership was by far India's best for the first wicket against the home team in Zimbabwe, outstripping the previous best of 44 runs between Ganguly and Tendulkar at Bulawayo on 27-9-1998.
• Sachin Tendulkar, during his knock of 81, became the highest run-getter against Zimbabwe. He has 1330 runs in 32 matches. He went past the previous record aggregate of 1279 runs (in 31 matches) held by teammate Sourav Ganguly. Incidentally, Tendulkar's aggregate of 1330 runs was also the highest among batsmen from both sides --- Andy Flower has 1298 runs in 36 matches.
• Tendulkar's 81 equals his highest score against Zimbabwe in the World Cup. He had made an identical score at Wellington on 7-3-1992.
• Sourav Ganguly (3-22) recorded his best bowling figures in a World Cup match. His previous best was the 3-27 against England at Birmingham on 29-5-1999.
• The 36-run partnership between Tatenda Taibu and Heath Streak was Zimbabwe's best against India for the 8th wicket in a World Cup match. The pair obliterates the previous best of 31 runs between Andy Pycroft and Babu Meman at Mumbai on 17-10-1987.
• This was India's seventh win against Zimbabwe in eight World Cup matches since the first in 1983.
• This was India's biggest win in terms of runs against Zimbabwe in the World Cup. The former had won by 55 runs at Hamilton on 7-3-1992.
• Tendulkar received his 46th man of the match award of his career in 306 matches. It was also the sixth such award for Tendulkar in 25 World Cup matches. He has now won the maximum awards than any other player in the World Cup. West Indian Viv Richards, England's Graham Gooch and South African Lance Klusener are behind Tendulkar with five awards each.