Gwalior, Feb 24: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar Wednesday created history by becoming the first cricketer to hit a double century in an ODI as India piled up 401 for three in 50 overs against South Africa in the second match at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium here.

Tendulkar was unstoppable right from the start and carried his bat through to score an unbeaten 200 off 147 balls hitting 25 fours and three sixes. En route to his double century, Tendulkar went past the previous best of Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry (194 not out) and Pakistan's Saeed Anwar (194).

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a cameo of 68 off 35 balls while Dinesh Karthik made 79.

After being run out cheaply in the first ODI in Jaipur, Tendulkar looked set for the big innings right from the start. His innings was studded with a dazzling array of his trademark boundaries, the wristy shots.

He got to his 50 off only 37 balls with his ninth boundary and then hammered five more en route to his 46th ODI century, that came up in 90 deliveries.

Tendulkar broke the previous highest score of 194 in ODIs off 140 deliveries and took his time in the final over to get to 200.

Karthik and Dhoni provided able support around Tendulkar.

Karthik smashed four fours and three sixes for his 85-ball 79. He fell after he mistimed a pull shot to Herschelle Gibbs. Yusuf Pathan then stepped on the accelerator with 36 off 23 balls, before Dhoni's onslaught. Dhoni was remarkable in his strokeplay and displayed some power hitting with his four sixes and seven fours.