To commemorate Cricket Association of Bengal's diamond jubilee, there was a five-nation tournament planned (India, South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were the participating teams) and conceptualized as the Hero Cup. After a mixed tournament, India were in the semifinals against strong favorites South Africa.
Against a strong bowling attack (Alan Donald, Fannie De Vilers, Brian McMillan, Pat Symcox) led by the genius Hansie Cronje at Kolkata, India chose to bat on a surface that was expected to be low and slow. India's playing eleven had started to resemble the one that would play for the country for a long time. The pace bowling department was managed by Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath and Salil Ankola. Anil Kumble was the lone spinner supported by the part-time options of Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja.
Thanks to a 95-run partnership between Azharuddin and Pravin Amre, India could post a paltry 195 as the total. Only three players went into double figures (Sachin Tendulkar being the third) as there was all signs that South Africa would run away with the match. In reply, South Africa led by Andrew Hudson started off strongly. Despite the fall of wickets, Brian McMillan stood at one crease between India and victory.
Needing six of the last ball for victory, McMillan was confident of success. India needed two wickets to win and many options with the ball to turn to, for bowling the last over (except Anil Kumble who had finished his quota). It was rumored that Sachin Tendulkar grabbed the ball from captain Azharuddin's hand. The first ball saw McMillan running out his partner Fannie De Viliers while trying a second run. This meant that the newcomer Alan Donald was on strike to Sachin. In what became a classic, Sachin's next three balls were bowled at such a pace and guile that Donald could not manage a single run! The fifth ball saw Donald finally take a run and give the strike to McMillan. With four required of the last ball, Sachin managed to give away only one run thereby clinching a win by two runs.
What a win this turned out to be! From a hopeless situation Sachin Tendulkar (this time the bowler) had grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.
Against a strong bowling attack (Alan Donald, Fannie De Vilers, Brian McMillan, Pat Symcox) led by the genius Hansie Cronje at Kolkata, India chose to bat on a surface that was expected to be low and slow. India's playing eleven had started to resemble the one that would play for the country for a long time. The pace bowling department was managed by Kapil Dev, Manoj Prabhakar, Javagal Srinath and Salil Ankola. Anil Kumble was the lone spinner supported by the part-time options of Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja.
Thanks to a 95-run partnership between Azharuddin and Pravin Amre, India could post a paltry 195 as the total. Only three players went into double figures (Sachin Tendulkar being the third) as there was all signs that South Africa would run away with the match. In reply, South Africa led by Andrew Hudson started off strongly. Despite the fall of wickets, Brian McMillan stood at one crease between India and victory.
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| Thanks to Sportskeeda website for this image |
What a win this turned out to be! From a hopeless situation Sachin Tendulkar (this time the bowler) had grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat.
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