Tendulkar seals S.Africa ODI series with double century

GWALIOR, India (Reuters) - Sachin Tendulkar scored one-day international cricket's first double century to set up a 153-run win and a series victory for India over South Africa on Wednesday.

Tendulkar, who opens in one-dayers, smashed 200 not out off 147 balls to help India post 401-3 and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

South Africa were bowled out for 248 with AB de Villiers hitting a defiant 114 not out in the day-night match at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium.

Tendulkar hit 25 fours and three sixes in a spectacular innings that combined power, timing and enthusiasm with stunning strokeplay.

The 36-year-old batsman reached 200 with a single off Charl Langeveldt in the final over and the capacity crowd erupted in joy as Tendulkar looked skyward, kissed the crest of his helmet and raised his bat.

India lost opener Virender Sehwag for nine to left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell but Tendulkar, who extended his record number of one-day centuries to 46, proceeded to put on 194 for the second wicket with Dinesh Karthik (79).

Tendulkar reached his 100 with a single and moved to 150 with a four off Parnell as he took complete control of the attack after hitting a century in each of the two tests against South Africa in the drawn test series earlier this month.

Tendulkar holds the record for most runs in tests (13,447) and ODIs (17,598) and most centuries in tests (47) and ODIs.

Tendulkar put on 81 for the third wicket with Yusuf Pathan (36) and 101 for the unbroken fourth with Mahendra Singh Dhoni who blasted 68 off 35 balls with seven fours and four sixes at the stadium, which has short boundary lines.