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On This Day In 2003: Sachin Tendulkar stitched a 102-run partnership with Mohammed Kaif while surpassing the 12,000-run landmark in ODI cricket.
On This Day In 2003: Sachin Tendulkar produced a sensational innings of 98 off 75 balls. (Image: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
On This Day In 2003: On this day (March 1) in 2003, Sachin Tendulkar came up with a match-winning knock against Pakistan at the World Cup. Chasing a challenging target of 274, Tendulkar produced a sensational innings of 98 off 75 balls.
Facing a formidable Pakistan bowling attack comprising the likes of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar and Waqar Younis, Tendulkar produced a splendid innings comprising 12 boundaries and one maximum. While Akhtar gave away 72 runs in his 10 overs, Waqar conceded 71 runs. This also remains as Akhtar’s most-expensive ten-over spell in the ODIs.
India, eventually, clinched a win with 26 balls to spare. Riding on the Master Blaster’s superb half century, India went on to claim a victory by six wickets.
Ahead of this fixture, the Indian cricket team had got the better of their arch-rivals Pakistan in previous World Cup games in 1992, 1996 and 1999. Pakistan were determined to win their fourth match in the history of the competition but Sachin Tendulkar turned out to be a decisive factor on that day.
As fans recall a special victory today, we take a look back at Sachin Tendulkar’s memorable innings that took place at the SuperSport Park, Centurion.
Batting first, Pakistan posted a solid total of 273 at the loss of seven wickets in 50 overs. Saeed Anwar emerged as Pakistan’s highest scorer of the game having played a fine knock of 101 off 126 balls.
Younis Khan, later, chipped in with a vital 32-run knock of 36 balls to guide Pakistan to a defendable score. India’s pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra picked up two wickets each in that match.
India kicked off their run chase on a promising note with both their opening batters—Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag—appearing in fine touch. Sehwag was the first to be dismissed having scored 21 runs off 14 balls.
Sachin exhibited his class and slammed Akram’s third ball for a boundary.
In the next over bowled by Akhtar, he hit the fourth delivery over third man for a six. He then cut the fastest bowler in the world for two more boundaries.
Sachin Tendulkar carried forward his sublime batting and registered a well-deserved half century. Tendulkar stitched a 102-run partnership with Mohammed Kaif while surpassing the 12,000-run landmark in ODI cricket.
Sachin Tendulkar, eventually, missed out on his century by just two runs. He was dismissed by Shoaib Akhtar in the 28th over of the innings. Rahul Dravid remained unbeaten on 44 to guide India to a special World Cup win against Pakistan.