April 22, 1998, Newlands– 6thODI, India v/s Australia, Coca-Cola Cup, Sharjah
Sachin 143 (131b, 9*4s, 5*6s)
Yes, on a day when the world tuned in for the latest instalment in rivalry between the “Little Champion from India” and “Spin Wizard of the Oz”, everybody saw it. They saw what Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was made up of. They saw what the small man from Mumbai was capable up of.
Through the summers of 1998, India and Australia had been exchanging blows to establish the supremacy over each other. India dismantled Australians in the Test series and dominated the league rounds of the Triangular ODI series that followed; only to see Australians wrestling the momentum their way by winning the finals of the Triangular ODI series. Before the cricket world could catch their breath back, the duo were joined by the Kiwis for the Coca Cola Sharjah Cup.
The Aussies butchered their opponents in the round-robin games and strutted to the finals. They were stronger and quicker. They had more belief, more confidence and more quality in every single department. They battered their rivals into submission, and they weren't even at their best.
In the last of the round-robin matches, India was to lock horns with Australia. In the day & night encounter Kangaroos won the toss and elected to bat first. They posted a massive total of 284; powered by Michael Bevan’s third ODI century and sublime 84 by Mark Waugh. India then had two targets: 285 to win the match, 254 to qualify on run-rate for the finals. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly got India going. India started cautiously; giving away nothing about what was in store for the rest of the game. In the sixth over, Sachin gave the first indication of the mood he was in. He swatted a short-pitch delivery bowled by Michael Kasprowicz over Mid-wicket fence for a six. He played the ball on front-foot. And on the very next delivery he repeated the shot of the back-foot, but for same result. A disgusted Kasprowicz came back in the next over to try something new. A short pitched delivery outside the off-stump tempted Sachin into a horizontal batted swipe. Ball took the outside edge and looped towards the Third-man region. But the rub of the green went India’s way as the ball fell between three charging fielders. As Sachin continued to charge, Dada missed a straight one and returned to the dressing room. Nayan ‘Iygo’ Mongia was promoted up the order up the order to pinch a few quick runs. Meanwhile Sachin kept on milking the bowling and occasionally stamping his authority over it. Kasprowicz was taken for back to back boundaries; Shane Warne was not spared either. In the 21st over, Sachin played a flat batted cover drive off the master spinner for an exquisite four. Later in the same over, he played a paddle sweep for a couple; the ease with which Sachin played, left Warne disgusted. In the very next over Sachin completed his half century. He reached the milestone off 57 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes.
However, he knew the job was far from done. India still needed about 150 runs off 28 overs to make it to the finals. But wickets kept on tumbling at the other end. The required run-rate was mounting and so was the pressure. And when one just thought it can’t get any worse, something unusual happened. A sandstorm came in and disrupted the play. The intensity of the storm was so high that the players had to retreat to the pavilion. A chase which was difficult was slowly looking daunting. But the Little Champion had other plans.
On resumption, VVS Laxman walked out with Sachin. The target had been revised to 276 and 237 off 46 overs for victory and qualification respectively. This demanded for ‘more than a run a ball’ effort. The holding on period was done and now it was the time for final dash. Kasprowicz came back to the attack for the 32nd over and Sachin blasted him over his head for a straight six; as if he was batting against a spinner. Tom Moody was served with a similar shot but only for a boundary; the sight screen was taking a battering. Sachin completed his century of 111 deliveries and it included 5 fours and 3 sixes. The Indian score read 194 for 4 in the 39th over. The victory looked out of sight and the main objective seemed to be the qualification for the finals. But Sachin cut loose and threw caution to the winds.
He paddled a ball by Fleming over the short Fine-leg for a four. In the next over the sight screen was smashed with a straight six of Steve Waugh. The next ball was hoicked on the on-side; the catch was dropped and the ball trickled away for a four. In the 43rd over, Fleming was deposited into the stands for another maximum. In the same over Sachin scored the runs which ensured India’s participation in the finals. Nothing else would have been appropriate. But Sachin wanted to go after the target. In 20 balls, India needed another 38 to win the game. The next ball was slapped through the Cover boundary for a four. And just when it looked as if Sachin will snatch the most memorable victory for team India, a short pitched delivery evaded Sachin’s bat and went to the gloves of the wicket keeper. Only issue, it had kissed the glove on the way. Arguably, Sachin’s best innings came to an unusual end. In the last 20 deliveries which he faced after getting to his century, he accumulated 43 runs. After his dismissal, Team India could muster only 8 runs in the last 3 overs.
India lost the match but made it to the finals. I was upset that India lost the match; even a little miffed with Sachin as he did not finish the match. Privately, though, I was still in an awe of what I had seen.
Secretly every Indian heart knew of this ‘El Salvador’. And somewhere, sulking under my disappointment, I also knew as I saw it too.
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