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31 Jan 1999. A tale of blood and tears, perhaps the greatest innings & the saddest tragedy of the splendid career of @sachin_rt . A match that will continue to be inconsolable heartbreak, in spite of the many monumental feats before and after.
#cricket #onthisday
31 Jan 1999. A tale of blood and tears, perhaps the greatest innings & the saddest tragedy of the splendid career of @sachin_rt . A match that will continue to be inconsolable heartbreak, in spite of the many monumental feats before and after.
#cricket #onthisday
It was a match that attracted international attention. A few months after the two neighbouring nations had been engaged in nuclear tests, resumed cricketing contests. Both interest and security reached a new benchmark as the sides played in a Test match after nine years.
The match lived up to the occasion. The teams traded even blows on a difficult wicket, and towards the end of the third day, India required 271 to win against Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saqlain Mushtaq after Venkatesh Prasad ran through the Pakistan tail with a spell of 5/0.
Tendulkar walked out with India tottering at 6/2, the openers having fallen to Waqar. At the other end, Akram was breathing fire. Saqlain Mushtaq’s fingers itched for a bowl on a wicket that was fast breaking up. Rahul Dravid, at the other end, was just about managing to survive.
The master seized back some of the initiative. Three boundaries in quick succession, one of them a peach of a cover drive off Akram, underlined that the match was far from over. Interruptions due to light brought an early end to the day, with India on 40/2. Tendulkar was on 20.
Thus began the last morning, the match balanced on knife’s edge. The stands of the stadium overflowed with 45,000 people. Tendulkar walked out with the unwavering goal of winning the match.
Tendulkar glanced the first ball from Akram for four, but it was more than apparent that runs would be difficult to come by. The conditions were supremely difficult and the bowling outstanding.
At 50, Dravid fell to Akram's uncanny skill. The 2nd and 4th balls pitched on the middle, swung back late and hit him on the pads down the leg side. The last ball was overpitched on the leg, swung away late, and took the off bail . Dravid walked back for 10 made over 110 minutes.
It was again Tendulkar’s turn to seize the initiative back, and he did so by pulling Saqlain to the mid-wicket fence.
Azharuddin scratched around for an hour, struggling against both pace and spin, before padding up to Saqlain. Delivered from wide of the crease it hit the Indian captain on the leg stump. However, Steve Dunne raised his finger. It was 73 for 4.
Ganguly struggled half-an-hour for 2 before falling to another outrageous decision. The cover-drive hit the silly-point fielder on the bounce and was taken by Moin Khan flying across from behind the stumps. Dunne spoke for an eternity with Ramaswamy before giving Ganguly out.
86/5 at lunch.
And then Tendulkar cracked a rare short ball from Saqlain to the point fence and steered Akram down to the third man to bring up his half century — one of the most fighting efforts of his career.
And then Tendulkar cracked a rare short ball from Saqlain to the point fence and steered Akram down to the third man to bring up his half century — one of the most fighting efforts of his career.
Mongia hung in there , the scoreboard almost drying up in the gripping battle. Unable to find gaps in the field, Tendulkar started to paddle-sweep Saqlain. The stroke, incredibly played off the leg-stump with a near straight bat. Four fours in a Saqlain over.
The tension reached breaking points, nerves were taut, fingernails gnawed to the quick. Tendulkar, with Mongia in tow, carried on the fight.
The back was playing up but the master continued. Finally, Tendulkar turned one from Saqlain to the square-leg and ran across, arms pumping, completing one of the best ever hundreds of his career.
Akram opted for the new ball in the next over. Tendulkar cracked him through the covers for four. And then there was that sublime straight drive off Younis, little more than a forward defensive push that streaked away between the bowler and the mid-off.
And now, with the immense pressure somewhat relieved, Mongia got into the act. He pummelled a Younis delivery over mid-on. And when Saqlain was brought back after just five overs with the new ball, he whacked the first ball over mid-wicket for six.
50 for the wicketkeeper, but with the match almost in India’s grasp, he got carried away. An ugly cross-batted swipe off Akram saw the ball skied to mid-on. The 52 was a superb innings under pressure, but the final stroke undid most of the hard work. 218/6, India still needed 53
Tendulkar battled on, and at the other end, Sunil Joshi cracked Saqlain over long-on for six.
The back was now really bothering the great man. He drove Akram to the fence to reduce the target to less than thirty. And then came another magical showdown in a Saqlain over.
The back was now really bothering the great man. He drove Akram to the fence to reduce the target to less than thirty. And then came another magical showdown in a Saqlain over.
Tendulkar paddle swept — Ijaz at slip showed spectacular anticipation, moving across & fielding fine on the leg side. Undeterred, Tendulkar stepped out and straight drove the next ball for four. The next ball was pulled imperiously for four. Just 17 required , 4 wickets in hand
Finally the fatal ball arrived that will forever remain a regret in Tendulkar’s trmendous career. The doosra was cannily floated. Tendulkar did not read it as he reached out to lift it straight. The leading edge went high up and Akram pouched it in the covers.
The master couldn't believe it. He walked back crestfallen. The crowd rose as one and thunderous applause followed him to the pavilion. 136 runs in 273 minutes — a masterclass of ability, technique and grit. He had pushed the door almost fully open, the rest just had to walk in.
They could not.The remaining batsmen could manage just four more runs.
. Akram trapped Anil Kumble leg before, another atrocious decision. Joshi lobbed a catch back to Saqlain. And finally, Javagal Srinath’s defensive shot spun back into his stumps. India lost by 12 runs
. Akram trapped Anil Kumble leg before, another atrocious decision. Joshi lobbed a catch back to Saqlain. And finally, Javagal Srinath’s defensive shot spun back into his stumps. India lost by 12 runs
Sachin #Tendulkar came in at 6 for 2. He left at 254 for 7, having etched a glittering gem worth 136. However, having managed 6 before the master walked to the wicket, the others managed 4 more once he was gone
A magnificent knock while men fell away like dominoes
#onthisday
A magnificent knock while men fell away like dominoes
#onthisday
