Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid destroy New Zealand with glorious artwork of batsmanship at Hyderabad in 1999

On November 8, 1999, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid lit up the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad with mammoth hundreds against New Zealand in an ODI. Bharath Ramaraj goes through the record-breaking partnership that still stands to this day.

On November 8, 1999, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid lit up the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad with mammoth hundreds against New Zealand in an ODI. Bharath Ramaraj goes through the record-breaking partnership that still stands to this day.

In the second One-Day International (ODI) of a five-match series played between India and New Zealand at Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad on November 8, 1999, one witnessed two knocks of matchless brilliance that elevated one-day cricket into stratospheric and fabulous peaks.

In short, when batting maestros Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid put on a mind-blowing world record partnership of 331 runs for any wicket, then it turns into a must-watch for aficionados.

Background

If we go down the memory lane, India in 1999 had a change in captain, as Tendulkar for the second time in his career took over from Mohammad Azharuddin. Even after playing a slew of largely inconsequential one-day tournaments around the world in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Canada and Kenya respectively, India was trying to find the right combination for the 50-over game.

Sourav Ganguly and, after some initial struggles in the shorter formats of the game, Dravid had established themselves as vital cogs of the batting line-up. But there were some teething problems, especially in the bowling department that were yet to be sorted out.

On the other end of the spectrum, after losing yet another semi-final in the 1999 ICC World Cup, New Zealand under the able stewardship of Stephen Fleming had a largely settled one-day side. One of their main concerns was who would open the batting with Nathan Astle.

The think-tank had already tried Mathew Horne and the pinch-hitter and former captain of New Zealand’s Under-19 team Llorne Howell. For the series against India played in 1999, New Zealand went back to Astle’s opening partner during the 1996 World Cup – Craig Spearman.

New Zealand was also trying to find a replacement for the metronomic Gavin Larsen. Scott Styris and Alex Tait were the two candidates who were in contention for that slot left vacant by the retired Larsen. It was Styris who eventually cemented his place in the side. But interestingly, from beginning as a bowling all-rounder, he turned into a batting all-rounder in the years to come.

India wins toss and makes a rip-roaring start to their innings

On a featherbed of a track and with lilliputian outfields, no one was surprised that Tendulkar elected to bat first after winning the toss. The turbo-charged Tendulkar started his innings on a great note by essaying an on-drive of hypnotic beauty off Chris Cairns.

Unfortunately for his partner at the other end, Ganguly wasn’t able to take advantage of a batting paradise, as he was run-out at the non-striker’s end. He was a victim of one of those unlucky dismissals, where Shayne O’Conner’s feather touch on his follow through resulted in the ball changing its direction ever so slightly to break the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Ganguly caught napping out of his crease.

Unfortunately for New Zealand, for the next 46.2 overs that was the only wicket they could celebrate, as they were sent on a leather hunt by Tendulkar and Dravid. The latter started his innings in fine fashion too with a punch off the back-foot as the ball raced to the boundary boards at the speed of red-lightning. Carins gave him a mouthful, but not surprisingly it didn’t seem to bother the zen master one bit.

Ever since the writer saw New Zealand’s left-armer O’Conner hit Australian batsman Mark Waugh on his pads with an in-swinger and appeal vociferously, only for the umpire to turn down a close LBW shout at the WACA in the 1997-98 season, he was impressed by his ability to prodigiously swing the ball both ways.

However at his pace, when it stopped swinging, he was nothing more than cannon fodder for batsmen and that is what exactly happened at Hyderabad. Both Dravid and Tendulkar tore him apart with felicitous stroke-play. Dravid played a glorious flick shot and when O’Conner tried to adjust his line ever so slightly by bowling it on an off-stump channel, Tendulkar punched a sublime cover-drive on the up for an eye-catching boundary.

The first-change bowler, Chris Drum, too was meted out with similar treatment by both willowy masters. In spite of Fleming having set a strong field on the on-side to stop the duo from scoring runs, Dravid was able to pierce the minutest of gaps with superbly timed flick shots. Tendulkar wasn’t to be left far behind, as he played a nice little leg-glance of Drum.

Even the usually economical Chris Harris wasn’t spared on that day. Actually, the only bowler who, with clever changes of pace, bowled with a semblance of control was Styris. As caustic flames emanated from both Dravid and Tendulkar’s willow, it seemed like if the Kiwis took another wicket in the innings, it was equivalent to an oasis in a desert.

Once India crossed the 200-run mark, it was carnage at the Hyderabad stadium. In fact, there was a sense of helplessness among New Zealand’s fielders. Soon, both batsmen conquered the landmark of reaching their respective centuries. When they crossed the three-figure mark, there were some outrageous shots played by both of them.

One vividly remembers how Dravid with what seemed more like a top-spin forehand essaying a believe-it-or-not shot off Cairns over the long-on region for a six to wow the crowd. Tendulkar at the other end, matched Dravid’s stroke by making a bit of room to thwack O’Connor for yet another sumptuous six.

By then, even a mere push from the willowy wizards seemed to be racing to the boundary boards. Tendulkar’s insane brilliance shone brightly when he come onto the front-foot and nonchalantly played a straight drive for a four of Styris’s bowling.

Drum who came onto bowl for yet another spell seemed to have aged quickly in one day. With a ragged run-up, he bowled a slew of full-tosses and Tendulkar took full toll of it by depositing it into the boundary boards every-time.

The 331-run thrill-a-minute partnership finally ended when Dravid was caught by Fleming of Cairns’s bowling. Tendulkar though, remained not out on a wonderfully made186. India notched up a mammoth total of 376 runs for the loss of just two wickets.

A slew of records were broken too. The 331-run second-wicket stand is still the highest for any wicket in ODIs. Tendulkar’s knock of 186 was the highest individual score by an Indian at that time.

What followed?

New Zealand looked dead tired after being fried in the heat by Tendulkar and Dravid. On expected lines, a tired looking New Zealand side folded up for just 202 runs in 33.1 overs to hand India a massive win by 174 runs. India eventually went onto win the series 3-2.

Brief scores:

India 376 for 2 in 50 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 186*, Rahul Dravid 153; Chris Cairns 1 for 73) beat New Zealand 202 in 33.1 overs (Adam Parore 39, Scott Styirs 43; Venkatesh Prasad 2 for 38, Anil Kumble 2 for 39) by 174 runs.

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar
 
(Bharath Ramaraj, an MBA in marketing, eats, drinks and sleeps cricket. He has played at school and college-level, and now channelises his passion for the game by writing about it)

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