This was the biggest match of the year for India in 2003 and ever since the schedule for the 2003 World Cup was announced this match between India and Pakistan at Centurion was highly anticipated by everyone as two great teams were about to clash at the biggest stage.
And during that time whenever there was a big match happening for India all eyes would go to one man and his name was Sachin Tendulkar and yet again In this match he played one of his best innings of all time and although It was not a 100, the value of this innings was a lot more than a lot of his 100s.
So, let’s look into this innings and the match In detail:
Pakistan made a big first innings score
Pakistan were batting first in this match and they had a very good batting line-up which had some of the best batters such as Saeed Anwar, Inzamam Ul Haq, Younis Khan etc and Saeed Anwar hit a big Hundred in this match and all the other Batters chipped in with useful scores. Pakistan made 273 in the first innings which was a huge score back in 2003 and India had a tall order ahead of them if they wanted to beat Pakistan.
Also Read | Best Sachin Tendulkar ODI innings
Sachin gave India the perfect start
Since the time India came out to chase it was Sachin Tendulkar who took on the world class bowling of Pakistan which had Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhter and he was smashing all of them with ease. India reached 50 in no time and Sachin was the architect with 12 fours and 1 six in this innings of his.
Also Read | Best Sachin Tendulkar Test cricket innings
Sachin The Match Winner
The 98 that he smashed in this match is still remembered for a lot of reasons, first he single handedly took India to the position from where they could easily win the match and he hit 54 runs in Boundaries and he had a strike rate of 130.66 at that time which is mind boggling. Sachin Tendulkar rates this innings among the best In his career and a lot of his 100s pale in comparison to This masterclass of an innings. A lot of the new age fans became cricket fans watching this innings and Sachin Tendulkar was the God of cricket for very good reason.
Also Read: Talking about the 200* by Sachin Tendulkar vs South Africa at Gwalior
