The Milestone Man - Sachin Tendulkar
In August 1990, The Manchester crowd caught a glimpse of the 17-year-old pummelling the English bowling line-up which consisted one of England’s most consistent seamers - Angus Fraser where he marked his 1st international ton. Fast forward to 2014, Sachin Tendulkar became the first international cricketer to score 100 international centuries, when he reached the three-figure mark against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka.
After winning the toss, the hosts asked India to bat first. The Mirpur track was always known to favor the chasing side. Indian openers, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir started the innings on a cautious note. Bangladesh pacer, Shafiul Aslam drew first blood for the hosts which saw Gautam Gambhir’s off-stump being uprooted.
The departure of Gambhir brought Virat Kohli to the crease. It was a visual treat for the Indian supporters as the duo showcased some exquisite stroke play. Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli knit together a 148-run partnership. Just when the partnership proved to be dangerous for Bangladesh, Abdur Razzaq bowled a gem of a delivery to send Virat Kohli back into the hut. However, Sachin Tendulkar anchored the innings at one end while Suresh Raina led the charge and upped the ante.
Century of Centuries
There was a huge onus on him, the country was in anticipation of witnessing history. Prior to the Mirpur ODI, Sachin hadn’t scored a century in his last 33 outings for India. There was immense pressure on the shoulders of the Mumbaikar. The crowd was on their feet as Sachin Tendulkar scored a single over mid-on off Shakib Al Hasan’s delivery, ending the wait. Sachin heaved a sigh of relief as he brought up his 100th international century in 138 balls. The whole cricketing fraternity paid tribute to the Master Blaster for a feat unimaginable before.
Thanks to the late flourish from Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni, India finished the innings with 289 runs on the board. The collective effort from Bangladesh batting unit saw them chase the steep target with 4 balls to spare. Tamim Iqbal and Jahurul Islam were the wreckers-in-chief as they laid a foundation for the other batters who followed.
Though India ended up on the wrong side of the result, the Dhaka ODI will always be remembered for the Master Blaster’s historic feat. Throughout his 24 years of cricketing journey for India, Sachin Tendulkar has been a true ambassador of the Gentleman’s game.
Challengers, which is your favourite SRT moment? Share your views in the comment section.
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