In this second article of Total Recall series, we are going to relive one of the most iconic matches of the 90’s era, one which shaped a youngster into a man and made millions of Indian fans hopeful that their team is going to get a lot of success in the coming years.
The CAB Jubilee Cup, known as ‘Hero Cup’, as Hero Honda were the sponsors, was organized from 7th November – 27th November 1993, to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Cricket Association of Bengal. It included host India, along with Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Pakistan was also scheduled to participate, but they pulled out just four days before the start of the tournament. All the ten league games (each team played the others once) were held at ten different venues and the semi-finals and final were held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
There was crowd trouble in the match between India and West Indies at Ahmedabad, which shortened the game, as well as a firecracker burst in the face of Keith Arthurton of West Indies in the final match against India (yes, even firecrackers were allowed to carry inside the stadiums in those days, imagine!).
This was also the first tournament to be broadcasted live on a satellite channel, Star TV. Until then, state terrestrial broadcaster Doordarshan had a monopoly of broadcasting cricket matches in India. Doordarshan even approached the Supreme Court in 1995, stating that the broadcast should be uplinked from India (Star TV did from Hong Kong), but this plea was rejected, which started the entry of multiple sponsors and broadcast rights bids in India.
India had defeated South Africa in the league stage, but that did not mean anything in a semi-final, which was a new experience for everyone involved. It was the first day-night ODI held at Eden Gardens (the first day night match outside Australia was held in Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium in 1984). So, it was not a very common experience for Indian team to play under lights. The fact that it was winter made things more tilted in favour of the bowlers with some swing and movement at offer. South Africa had been a force to reckon since their re-entry into cricket in 1991, and this was going to be a mouth-watering contest.
Md. Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat first. By the 7th over, India was tottering at 18/3, with Manoj Prabhakar and Vinod Kambli being brilliantly run out by Daryll Cullinan and Ajay Jadeja out LBW by Fanie de Villiers. When Sachin Tendulkar got out for 15, India was reeling at 53/4. That is when Azhar resurrected the innings, along with the help of Pravin Amre, who scored a slow, but much needed 48 off 90 balls. Such was the domination of South Africa, that these three were the only batsmen to reach a double-digit score (the fourth highest contribution was from Extras, 13 of them!)
Azhar waged a lone battle on his favourite ground and ended up scoring 90 off 118 balls. The wickets kept falling at the other end. India scored just 195 runs and seemed at least 25 runs short of a safe total. Fanie de Villiers bowled brilliantly with figures of 10-1-19-3, ably assisted by Richard Snell (33-3) and Hansie Cronje (9 overs for just 25 runs). Indian bowlers needed to bowl brilliantly well to secure a place in the final of the tournament. One advantage India had was the presence of a massive, energetic, and loud crowd of almost 100,000 people, which cheered their team on with each single run being scored. They were going to play a big part in motivating their team to win the match.
India started off well, with a young and lanky Javagal Srinath removing the skipper Kepler Wessels. Cronje, Cullinan, and Jonty Rhodes came in after that and chipped in and got starts but then got dismissed for scores of 13,10 and 16, respectively. Opener Andrew Hudson was still on the crease when he was joined by the bulky all-rounder Brian McMillan at the score of 106/4. Hudson was looking in good touch and had scored 6 boundaries. He looked to play the role of an anchor, who could hold one end safe and see the team through to the end. His innings was cut short by Anil Kumble, who bowled him for the score of 62.
The team score read 130/5, but the required run rate was still under control, and South Africa’s lower middle order could bat decently. So, the match was still on. Kumble had played the same role that De Villiers did for South Africa and was very economical with figures of 10-0-29-2. He was very well assisted by Ajay Jadeja, who had figures of 9-0-31-2. Yes, Ajay Jadeja was a regular bowler for team India in those years, and very effective too!
Brian McMillan was the danger man. Wickets were falling at the other end, but he was the hope for South Africa. Once the wicketkeeper Dave Richardson was out, the score read 190/8 at the end of 49th over. South Africa needed 6 runs to win and reach the final. There was a small meeting going on between Azhar, Sachin, Jadeja and Kapil Dev out in the middle. Kapil Dev had an over left and Azhar wanted him to bowl. But Kapil was seen rotating his left shoulder, seemingly suggesting that it is sore. One could see the focus in young Sachin’s eye during the discussion. To the utter bewilderment of everyone in the ground and watching it on tv, Azhar tossed the ball to him! Sachin had not even bowled a ball in the match and now he was supposed to defend 5 runs in the last over. It seemed an audacious task, and even though Sachin had managed to tie the match with his bowling in the low scoring match against the Windies in Australia in December of 1991, the stakes were very high this time.
1st ball – Sachin bowled a slow ball outside off stump, which was hit through to deep cover by McMillan. Salil Ankola fielded the ball. De Villiers dashed back for a non-existent second run but was stranded mid-pitch as McMillan refused the run and the keeper Vijay Yadav took off the bails. There was jubilation in the crowd. The score read 191/9, last man Allan Donald was now supposed to come out and face the music.
2nd ball – Donald tried to hit the ball through covers but could not connect. Dot Ball.
3rd ball – Donald tried to tap the ball towards mid-wicket and rotate the strike, but Sachin was bowling very slowly and skilfully. The ball rolled back towards him and again a dot ball.
4th ball – Again Donald tried to have a wild swing at a ball outside off stump but could not make any connection. Dot ball, and now South Africa needed 5 off 2 balls. The nervousness was peaking. This was getting close.
5th ball – This time Donald waited for the slower ball, hit it in the air towards long on and got off the strike. 4 needed of the last ball for a victory, which was very much possible with McMillan on strike. He was batting on 48.
There was again a discussion between Sachin and Yadav. The atmosphere was as tense as it could get. The expectations were too much. Yadav was now standing at a considerable distance from the stumps, to prevent any wides or edges running to the boundary.
6th ball – Sachin ran in and bowled a fuller ball, angling in towards McMillan. He tried to heave it over the top but missed it completely. The ball went between his pads and the leg stump, safely in the gloves of Yadav. They ran across for a bye, but that was it. India had won a thrilling contest by 2 runs! Sachin was jumping for joy in his trademark style.
The hero of the moment was a 20 year old Sachin Tendulkar – the shy, curly-haired boy, who was touted to be a batting great in future, had kept his nerves ice cool in a time when even legends can get cold feet, and won the game with his bowling. It was later revealed by him that Kapil Dev suggested that the pace of his own bowling can make it easier to score, and hence he suggested that Sachin should bowl that over.
The crowd went delirious. There were flames lit up, firecrackers were going on and the noise would have blown off the roof, if there was one! India ended up winning the final at the same venue against West Indies 3 days later, and lifted the Hero Cup, one of the finest hours in India’s one day cricket history. That win paved the way for future Indian stars to be motivated and created many new ardent fans of the game, especially Sachin’s, who in the next few years, would become a darling of India and a household name, and the backbone of India’s hope till the turn of the millennium. There used to be an endearment for Sachin in each family, as if he were one of their own, and this last over and many such moments later in his career, played a huge role in that.
For all those wanting to relive the magical moments, the videos of the short highlights package and the last over are here.
The match highlights:
The Last Over :
The Backdrop
Controversies
This was also the first tournament to be broadcasted live on a satellite channel, Star TV. Until then, state terrestrial broadcaster Doordarshan had a monopoly of broadcasting cricket matches in India. Doordarshan even approached the Supreme Court in 1995, stating that the broadcast should be uplinked from India (Star TV did from Hong Kong), but this plea was rejected, which started the entry of multiple sponsors and broadcast rights bids in India.
Points Table (at the end of league stage)
The Match
Md. Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat first. By the 7th over, India was tottering at 18/3, with Manoj Prabhakar and Vinod Kambli being brilliantly run out by Daryll Cullinan and Ajay Jadeja out LBW by Fanie de Villiers. When Sachin Tendulkar got out for 15, India was reeling at 53/4. That is when Azhar resurrected the innings, along with the help of Pravin Amre, who scored a slow, but much needed 48 off 90 balls. Such was the domination of South Africa, that these three were the only batsmen to reach a double-digit score (the fourth highest contribution was from Extras, 13 of them!)
Azhar waged a lone battle on his favourite ground and ended up scoring 90 off 118 balls. The wickets kept falling at the other end. India scored just 195 runs and seemed at least 25 runs short of a safe total. Fanie de Villiers bowled brilliantly with figures of 10-1-19-3, ably assisted by Richard Snell (33-3) and Hansie Cronje (9 overs for just 25 runs). Indian bowlers needed to bowl brilliantly well to secure a place in the final of the tournament. One advantage India had was the presence of a massive, energetic, and loud crowd of almost 100,000 people, which cheered their team on with each single run being scored. They were going to play a big part in motivating their team to win the match.
India started off well, with a young and lanky Javagal Srinath removing the skipper Kepler Wessels. Cronje, Cullinan, and Jonty Rhodes came in after that and chipped in and got starts but then got dismissed for scores of 13,10 and 16, respectively. Opener Andrew Hudson was still on the crease when he was joined by the bulky all-rounder Brian McMillan at the score of 106/4. Hudson was looking in good touch and had scored 6 boundaries. He looked to play the role of an anchor, who could hold one end safe and see the team through to the end. His innings was cut short by Anil Kumble, who bowled him for the score of 62.
The team score read 130/5, but the required run rate was still under control, and South Africa’s lower middle order could bat decently. So, the match was still on. Kumble had played the same role that De Villiers did for South Africa and was very economical with figures of 10-0-29-2. He was very well assisted by Ajay Jadeja, who had figures of 9-0-31-2. Yes, Ajay Jadeja was a regular bowler for team India in those years, and very effective too!
Brian McMillan was the danger man. Wickets were falling at the other end, but he was the hope for South Africa. Once the wicketkeeper Dave Richardson was out, the score read 190/8 at the end of 49th over. South Africa needed 6 runs to win and reach the final. There was a small meeting going on between Azhar, Sachin, Jadeja and Kapil Dev out in the middle. Kapil Dev had an over left and Azhar wanted him to bowl. But Kapil was seen rotating his left shoulder, seemingly suggesting that it is sore. One could see the focus in young Sachin’s eye during the discussion. To the utter bewilderment of everyone in the ground and watching it on tv, Azhar tossed the ball to him! Sachin had not even bowled a ball in the match and now he was supposed to defend 5 runs in the last over. It seemed an audacious task, and even though Sachin had managed to tie the match with his bowling in the low scoring match against the Windies in Australia in December of 1991, the stakes were very high this time.
The Last Over
The excitement was on its prime. With everything to play for, the crowd was on the edge of their seats. It was now or never. Sachin looked eager to bowl.
1st ball – Sachin bowled a slow ball outside off stump, which was hit through to deep cover by McMillan. Salil Ankola fielded the ball. De Villiers dashed back for a non-existent second run but was stranded mid-pitch as McMillan refused the run and the keeper Vijay Yadav took off the bails. There was jubilation in the crowd. The score read 191/9, last man Allan Donald was now supposed to come out and face the music.
2nd ball – Donald tried to hit the ball through covers but could not connect. Dot Ball.
3rd ball – Donald tried to tap the ball towards mid-wicket and rotate the strike, but Sachin was bowling very slowly and skilfully. The ball rolled back towards him and again a dot ball.
4th ball – Again Donald tried to have a wild swing at a ball outside off stump but could not make any connection. Dot ball, and now South Africa needed 5 off 2 balls. The nervousness was peaking. This was getting close.
5th ball – This time Donald waited for the slower ball, hit it in the air towards long on and got off the strike. 4 needed of the last ball for a victory, which was very much possible with McMillan on strike. He was batting on 48.
There was again a discussion between Sachin and Yadav. The atmosphere was as tense as it could get. The expectations were too much. Yadav was now standing at a considerable distance from the stumps, to prevent any wides or edges running to the boundary.
6th ball – Sachin ran in and bowled a fuller ball, angling in towards McMillan. He tried to heave it over the top but missed it completely. The ball went between his pads and the leg stump, safely in the gloves of Yadav. They ran across for a bye, but that was it. India had won a thrilling contest by 2 runs! Sachin was jumping for joy in his trademark style.
The crowd went delirious. There were flames lit up, firecrackers were going on and the noise would have blown off the roof, if there was one! India ended up winning the final at the same venue against West Indies 3 days later, and lifted the Hero Cup, one of the finest hours in India’s one day cricket history. That win paved the way for future Indian stars to be motivated and created many new ardent fans of the game, especially Sachin’s, who in the next few years, would become a darling of India and a household name, and the backbone of India’s hope till the turn of the millennium. There used to be an endearment for Sachin in each family, as if he were one of their own, and this last over and many such moments later in his career, played a huge role in that.
For all those wanting to relive the magical moments, the videos of the short highlights package and the last over are here.
The match highlights:
The Last Over :
By DHCF Nishant Raizaday
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