Sachin Tendulkar's Centurion gem that destroyed Pakistan

 
Sachin 98.jpg

The surreal cut over point for six. Followed by that turn of the wrist as the flick shot past square leg. And then arrived that moment … a stroke blazing the turf leaving behind a streak of the purest. A drive that was almost a defensive push, that sped between bowler and mid-on and kept travelling all the way. In those three deliveries, Shoaib Akhtar was knocked out. He went for 72 in his quota of 10 overs.

Faced with a steep target, India were on their way to what would be an outstanding win.

Two backfoot drives off Wasim Akram sped through the off-side, one more came off Waqar Younis. The fifty was up in 37 balls and Tendulkar punched the air in celebration.

In the 6 World Cups he played, Sachin Tendulkar scored 2278 runs 56.95 per innings and a strike rate of 88.98 with six hundreds and 15 fifties. However, this 75-ball 98 was perhaps the most memorable of them all. He overcame the Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar …all of them, and a recurrent pain that kept shooting through his leg.

A timeless gem.

Text: Arunabha Sengupta

Illustration: Maha