A masterly century by Sachin Tendulkar and an inspired bowling spell by Zaheer Khan led India to a nail-biting tie against England in their World Cup Group B match on Sunday.

After India slammed 338 runs, England were coasting before Zaheer produced a superb bowling spell to take three quick wickets to revive India’s fortunes.

The match went down to the last ball with England needing two to win but they managed to get one to tie the match — a result that was loudly cheered by all those lucky enough to witness it at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Earlier India’s total revolved largely around Sachin Tendulkar’s (120) 47^th one-day international century and a record fifth in World Cups.

In reply, England’s run-chase was set well on its way helped by a cracking century by skipper Andrew Strauss (158), the first century by an English captain in a World Cup.

Tendulkar’s 120 saw him become the first batsman to score five centuries in World Cup cricket, claiming outright a record previously shared with India’s Sourav Ganguly and the Australian pair of Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

Already the record-holder for most one-day international centuries, Tendulkar’s 47^th hundred in 446 ODI matches saw him in complete control against England’s hapless attack.

Together with Gautam Gambhir he shared a second-wicket stand of 134 at better than a run-a-ball before the left-handed opener was bowled by off-spinner Graeme Swann for 51.

Their partnership followed the loss of Virender Sehwag, who made 35 to follow his 175 in India’s tournament-opening win against fellow co-hosts Bangladesh.

Tendulkar then put on 56 with Yuvraj Singh before he was caught off a leading edge by Michael Yardy at extra cover off Anderson.

“I think that’s a great score. I think our batsmen gave a good start,” said Yuvraj.

“I think 340 is a good score to defend. It’s turning and it’s got good bounce,” he added.

Tendulkar faced 115 balls with 10 fours and five sixes — three against Swann and two off Paul Collingwood’s medium-pacers.

Left-hander Yuvraj ensured there was no respite for England with a quickfire 58 against an England attack that missed the variations of Stuart Broad, sidelined through illness.

Anderson — unable to generate much conventional or reverse swing — conceded 91 runs in 9.5 overs, unable to stem the flow of runs.

But Tim Bresnan picked up several late wickets when the slog was on to finish with career-best figures of five for 48.

Tendulkar was composed early on before the 37-year-old right-hander struck Collingwood for two sixes — the second taking him to a 66-ball fifty.

England captain Andrew Strauss rang the changes but it made little difference.

Tendulkar reached his century off 103 balls when he glanced Bresnan for four, a shot greeted by raucous cheers from a near-capacity crowd.

India made one change, opting for a second spinner in leg-break specialist Piyush Chawla and dropping erratic paceman Shanthakumaran Sreesanth.

England brought in Ajmal Shahzad for Broad and Yardy for all-rounder Ravi Bopara as they also opted for two spinners.

SCOREBOARD

India innings V. Sehwag c Prior b Bresnan 35 S. Tendulkar c Yardy b Anderson 120 G. Gambhir b Swann 51 Yuvraj Singh c Bell b Yardy 58 M. Dhoni c sub (Wright) b Bresnan 31 Y. Pathan c Swann b Bresnan 14 V. Kohli b Bresnan 8 Harbhajan Singh lbw b Bresnan 0 Z. Khan run out (Prior

Strauss) 4 P. Chawla run out (Anderson) 2 M. Patel not out 0 Extras (lb-3 w-7 nb-5) 15 Total (all out; 49.5 overs) 338

Fall of wickets: 1-46 2-180 3-236 4-305 5-305 6-327 7-327 8-328 9-338 10-338

Bowling: Anderson 9.5-0-91-1 (1nb 1w), Shahzad 8-0-53-0 (2w), Bresnan 10-1-48-5, Swann 9-1-59-1 (2w), Collingwood 3-0-20-0, Yardy 10-0-64-1 (2w).

England innings A. Strauss lbw b Khan 158 K. Pietersen c and b Patel 31 J. Trott lbw b Chawla 16 I. Bell c Kohli b Khan 69 P. Collingwood b Khan 1 M. Prior c sub (Raina) b Harbhajan Singh 4 M. Yardy c Sehwag b Patel 13 T. Bresnan b Chawla 14 G. Swann not out 15 A. Shahzad not out 6 Extras (b-1 lb-7 w-3) 11 Total (for eight wickets; 50 overs ) 338 Did not bat: J. Anderson