Read on Twitter
On this day, 1987, Saleem Malik played one of the greatest ODI innings in the history of Eden Gardens.
In fact, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time anywhere.
I mentioned Eden Gardens there because, umm, I grew up in the city, and it was the first ODI played there.
+
In fact, one of the greatest ODI innings of all time anywhere.
I mentioned Eden Gardens there because, umm, I grew up in the city, and it was the first ODI played there.
+
Nobody gave Pakistan a chance after India scored 238/6 in 40 overs that day.
Forty, not fifty overs, mind you. The asking rate was huge by 1987 standards.
Srikkanth got 123 of India's runs, in 103 balls.
There were two ways to go about the chase.
+
Forty, not fifty overs, mind you. The asking rate was huge by 1987 standards.
Srikkanth got 123 of India's runs, in 103 balls.
There were two ways to go about the chase.
+
To go after everything from the beginning or opt for a sedate start, holding wickets back.
Pakistan opted for the later.
Rameez and Younis Ahmed got identical scores of 58. They added 106 for the first wicket.
Then Younis hit one back to Shastri.
+
Pakistan opted for the later.
Rameez and Younis Ahmed got identical scores of 58. They added 106 for the first wicket.
Then Younis hit one back to Shastri.
+
And Maninder got the big wicket of Miandad.
Pakistan had a string of big hitters that day. Imran decided that it was time.
He promoted Qadir to 4 and Manzoor Elahi to 5.
Neither worked. Shastri got Rameez, then both Qadir and Elahi. 161/5.
At this point Malik joined Imran.
+
Pakistan had a string of big hitters that day. Imran decided that it was time.
He promoted Qadir to 4 and Manzoor Elahi to 5.
Neither worked. Shastri got Rameez, then both Qadir and Elahi. 161/5.
At this point Malik joined Imran.
+
He had been around, he was a special batsman, very attractive, but nothing had prepared anyone for what followed.
He swept Maninder for four almost immediately. Then Pandit missed a stumping.
But Kapil struck at the other end, trapping Imran leg-before. 174/6.
+
He swept Maninder for four almost immediately. Then Pandit missed a stumping.
But Kapil struck at the other end, trapping Imran leg-before. 174/6.
+
Shastri bowled out. With 4/38, he was India's best bowler of the day.
65 to win in 6 overs.
Malik lofted Maninder into the stands over square leg.
Then he picked up three fours, one with a leg-glance, two with lofted shots over cover.
46 in 5 overs.
+
65 to win in 6 overs.
Malik lofted Maninder into the stands over square leg.
Then he picked up three fours, one with a leg-glance, two with lofted shots over cover.
46 in 5 overs.
+
Now Kapil was glanced and pulled for fours.
When Kapil added more fielders to the leg, Malik moved away and found the off-side boundary.
30 in 4 overs.
Madan Lal bowled the 37th over. Malik hit the first ball, a full toss, to the long leg for four.
His fifty took 23 balls.
+
When Kapil added more fielders to the leg, Malik moved away and found the off-side boundary.
30 in 4 overs.
Madan Lal bowled the 37th over. Malik hit the first ball, a full toss, to the long leg for four.
His fifty took 23 balls.
+
Another four followed, and twos.
17 in 3 overs.
But now Kapil struck.
Wasim had faced just two balls until then.
He now hit one straight to Azhar. He had scored 3 in a 50-run stand.
Saleem Yousuf was then run out on 232.
Pakistan needed only 7, but they were eight down.
+
17 in 3 overs.
But now Kapil struck.
Wasim had faced just two balls until then.
He now hit one straight to Azhar. He had scored 3 in a 50-run stand.
Saleem Yousuf was then run out on 232.
Pakistan needed only 7, but they were eight down.
+
If only India could get those two wickets...
But in the process of promoting the Qadirs and the Wasims and the Elahis, Imran had held a specialist batsman back.
This was no ordinary man.
Four years ag, he had scored 761 runs in a Test series against India with four hundreds.
+
But in the process of promoting the Qadirs and the Wasims and the Elahis, Imran had held a specialist batsman back.
This was no ordinary man.
Four years ag, he had scored 761 runs in a Test series against India with four hundreds.
+
He had batted for 1,479 balls.
He could bore you to death, but he was immovable. He still holds the world record for the slowest Test hundred.
Mudassar Nazar.
The last man India wanted to see when they desperately wanted a wicket.
+
He could bore you to death, but he was immovable. He still holds the world record for the slowest Test hundred.
Mudassar Nazar.
The last man India wanted to see when they desperately wanted a wicket.
+
Rajput was bowling the penultimate over. Strategic? Perhaps.
But Malik, perhaps calmed down by Mudassar's serene presence, did not get carried away at the sight of an occasional bowler.
He held his nerve.
Four were needed off the last over, from Kapil.
+
But Malik, perhaps calmed down by Mudassar's serene presence, did not get carried away at the sight of an occasional bowler.
He held his nerve.
Four were needed off the last over, from Kapil.
+
Malik sealed the match with a cover-driven four off the third ball.
He finished with 72 not out from 36 balls – an incredible innings even by today's standards.
Only 8 runs were scored at the other end during his presence.
He hit 11 fours and a six.
+
He finished with 72 not out from 36 balls – an incredible innings even by today's standards.
Only 8 runs were scored at the other end during his presence.
He hit 11 fours and a six.
+
Remember, the boundaries were close to the fence in those days, and Eden Gardens is one of the largest cricket grounds.
Talking of Eden Gardens, the same ground erupted during a semi-final nine years later.
But on this occasion, they simply sat shell-shocked.
Talking of Eden Gardens, the same ground erupted during a semi-final nine years later.
But on this occasion, they simply sat shell-shocked.
Nearly one thousand people. Pin-drop silence.
One *hundred thousand
