Adam Bacher’s stunner to end a Sachin Tendulkar gem

Adam Bacher’s stunner to end a Sachin Tendulkar gem

The 1996-97 season saw some intense contests between India and South Africa. India beat them in the Titan Cup final to win the One-Day International (ODI) tournament in India and then beat them in the Test series. Hansie Cronje’s side again challenged India in an ODI in Mumbai and lost. However, when India visited South Africa later that year, they knew the Proteas would have their tails up.

Sachin Tendulkar’s men were demolished by Allan Donald in the first Test at Durban and in the second Test at Cape Town; they were staring follow-on, when Tendulkar produced a gem.

Tendulkar, on 169, was batting with last man Dodda Ganesh, when he pulled all-rounder Brian McMillan towards the square leg for what seemed to rocket be another boundary. Adam Bacher, 23 then, was playing his second Test. He was standing a few yards in front of the line at backward square and he too was certain that the ball would go over his right shoulder for a boundary.

He somehow managed to throw himself up and back, plucking the ball on its way. Off balanced and in the air, he landed hard on the ground, getting his body in synch to the ball’s momentum and completing an unbelievable one-handed catch!

Sunil Gavaskar commentating called it, “It’s got to be one of the greatest catches seen ever in Test cricket!”

India did save the follow-on but couldn’t avoid losing the Cape Town Test.