January 1997, Newlands – 2nd
Test match of India’s tour to South Africa
Sachin 169 (254b, 26*4s)
Some people
are suited more as warriors than as kings. Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was a
classic example of this. At the tender age of 23, he had already established
himself as the premier batsman of Team India. When the nation suffered a
painful heartbreak in the semi-finals of 1996 World Cup, the cricket lovers of
the country demanded a new leadership to take the team forward. Those were
the days when the selectors used to play the regional lobby card real hard. The
only name they could find a consensus upon was of Sachin. And the baggage of
captaincy was ladened on the young shoulders of the ‘Blue eyed boy’ of Indian
cricket.
His first
international assignment was the tour of South Africa in December '96. Those were
the days when Indian team used to travel abroad only to return after being thrashed by the
opponents. No one was expecting any better this time. Allan Donald, ‘The White
Lightening’, was one of the fastest bowlers that the world had ever seen. He was
the ‘Destructor in Chief’ of the Proteas. He was ably assisted by the likes of
Shaun Pollock, Paul Adams & Lance Klusener. Indians were served with a
glimpse of the horror that was to be unleashed on them, in the first test itself. The
pace battery of South Africa bundled the Indian cricket team for 166. And that
was the collective score we could accumulate in two innings. South Africa won the
test match by 328 runs and with 2 days to spare. A humiliated Indian team was
left to lick its wounds. This defeat had shaken something inside Sachin and at
times, that is all what it takes.
The second
test began at Newlands, Cape Town and the normal proceedings resumed. The South
Africans won the toss and elected to bat. The pedestrian looking Indian attack
was put to sword and the declaration came in only after the scorecard read 529
for 7. India was put in to negate 16 overs before the close of the play on day 2.
On a bouncy wicket the Indian batsmen found it tough to deal with the pace and
bounce of the South African pacers. India made a mess of it and lost 3 wickets
before the closure of play. Things did not change the next morning too, as
India lost another two and now the score card read 58 for 5. India was staring
at follow-on. But Sachin along with Azhar decided to take the fight to the
Proteas. He counter attacked with aggression. He drove a few deliveries
through off-side for sparkling boundaries. But Sachin also edged a couple of
out-swingers and was lucky to survive. Then Sachin changed his strategy and took
a leg-stump guard. This encouraged the bowlers to bowl on the stumps and Allan
Donald was the first one to take the bait. Donald came bustling from over the
wicket and fired a fast in-dipper at a good length. Sachin was waiting for this;
he took a long stride towards the pitch of the ball and flicked the ball for a boundary
through the square leg region. A fuming Donald bowled the next one faster and
fuller. Bang!! The straight bat of Sachin sent the ball out of the long-on
boundary with a picture perfect on-drive. Caution was thrown to the winds. There
was no place for the bowlers to hide.
Azhar and Sachin blasted everyone who came in their way and shared a partnership of 222 runs in the process. Sachin exhibited some of the most artistic shots of cricket with shambolic ease. On-drives, cover drives, flicks, glances and square cuts, all along the ground. Some say, “On the day, he batted in a zone where nothing could intrude, where none could follow.” On the other end Azhar was playing a blinder. The duo added 176 in the post lunch session and pinned the South African attack into submission. Sachin was particularly severe on Klusener. He carved some of the most forceful square-cuts on his bowling. Paul Adams was causing a lot noise with his unorthodox bowling action but Sachin read him perfectly and milked him off. Sachin completed his century with a well timed flick for four runs off Donald. The look on the face of the pacer said it all; dejected, defeated and making a sincere effort not to appreciate the master-class on display. Sachin completed the century off just 138 balls with 16 hits to the fence.
It looked as if India was set to match the South African score. But Azhar’s moment of madness brought an end to the partnership. He smashed a 115 off 110 balls and ran himself out with India still 50 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. But Sachin was determined to take India over the line. He orchestrated a few crucial partnerships with the lower order batsmen to ensure that India avoided follow-on. And we did manage to do that with a couple of wickets in hand. He was the last batsman to be dismissed when Adam Bacher caught a stunner at deep mid-wicket. Sachin accumulated 169 runs and showcased 26 scintillating fours during his stay of nearly 6 hours on the pitch.
Azhar and Sachin blasted everyone who came in their way and shared a partnership of 222 runs in the process. Sachin exhibited some of the most artistic shots of cricket with shambolic ease. On-drives, cover drives, flicks, glances and square cuts, all along the ground. Some say, “On the day, he batted in a zone where nothing could intrude, where none could follow.” On the other end Azhar was playing a blinder. The duo added 176 in the post lunch session and pinned the South African attack into submission. Sachin was particularly severe on Klusener. He carved some of the most forceful square-cuts on his bowling. Paul Adams was causing a lot noise with his unorthodox bowling action but Sachin read him perfectly and milked him off. Sachin completed his century with a well timed flick for four runs off Donald. The look on the face of the pacer said it all; dejected, defeated and making a sincere effort not to appreciate the master-class on display. Sachin completed the century off just 138 balls with 16 hits to the fence.
It looked as if India was set to match the South African score. But Azhar’s moment of madness brought an end to the partnership. He smashed a 115 off 110 balls and ran himself out with India still 50 runs short of avoiding the follow-on. But Sachin was determined to take India over the line. He orchestrated a few crucial partnerships with the lower order batsmen to ensure that India avoided follow-on. And we did manage to do that with a couple of wickets in hand. He was the last batsman to be dismissed when Adam Bacher caught a stunner at deep mid-wicket. Sachin accumulated 169 runs and showcased 26 scintillating fours during his stay of nearly 6 hours on the pitch.
This innings
by little master oozed with control and confidence. India lost the match but
the knock is still remembered for the classy strokes that were on display.
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