The SuperSport Park at Centurion probably had never got so louder than any other day. After all, it played host to what was billed as the match of the 2003 World Cup – India-Pakistan face-off. Frenzied flag-waving, drum-beating, the sight of national flag colour-smearing ringed in an extra buzz to the ambience.
And there was one Sachin Tendulkar, who regaled the 19000-odd crowd with his breathtaking strokeplay. He took upon himself the responsibility of chasing down a formidable Pakistan target of 274, stamping his authority on the Pakistan bowlers from the outset with a sweetly-timed square drive off Wasim Akram in the first over.
But the one passage of play we all remember is the one when Tendulkar launched himself on Shoaib Akhtar. A fierce cut up and over point for six was followed by an elegant flick to the square-leg boundary. And the onslaught was rounded off with a caress down-the-ground that saw the ball rocketing to the long-on fence.
The mayhem on Shoaib prompted skipper Waqar Younis to remove him from the attack after just one over. Pakistan didn’t have an answer on how to contain Tendulkar, as he was batting in a different league altogether. He took a particular liking for the off-side and kept peppering them with boundaries irrespective of whether it was pitched up or bowled short.
His strong off-side strokes were also complemented by his exquisite flicks on the on-side. A flick off Waqar to the deep mid-wicket region brought his half-century off just 37 balls.
His early blitz ensured India were always up with the required run rate even they lost wickets of Sehwag and Ganguly early. Tendulkar raced to a near-century but when he got out fending a short ball from Shoaib at the score on 177 for a 75-ball 98, he had done most of the damage. His blitzkrieg left the latter batsmen to finish off the match without taking any undue risks as India romped home with more than four overs to spare.
His majestic knock drew copious praise from World Cup organising committee chief Ali Bacher, prompting him to send a telegram which read. “We wanted this World Cup to be the most successful World Cup ever and your innings against Pakistan at Centurion has helped us achieve that."
It sums up the greatness of Tendulkar’s belligerent knock.
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