Sachin Tendulkar has turned 45 on April 24 (Tuesday. And on the eve of this birthday on Monday, the batting maestro remembered his match-winning innings against Australia two days prior to his 25th birthday in 1998.
India faced a dominant Australian team in the sixth match of the Coca-Cola Cup in Sharjah on April 22, 1998. Australia had already booked their place in the final. India on the other hand had to beat Australia or keep a run-rate better than New Zealand. (IPL FULL COVERAGE)
They needed at least 254 runs to make the final on better run rate after Australia had put up a sizeable total of 284. But to add to India’s already formidable task, another strong challenge presented itself: a desert storm.
With India on 143/4 in 31 overs, a desert storm swept across the stadium. When play resumed, India’s task had become even more difficult. The revised target to enter the final was 237 runs in 46 overs.
Sachin Tendulkar recalls the rest.