Published: Dec 05, 2014, 06:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 06, 2014, 10:36 AM (IST)
‘Catches win matches’. It’s a cliché now, but this stunning effort by Sachin Tendulkar in the 2004 series, helped India win its first ever One-Day International (ODI) series in Pakistan.
Pakistani captain Inzamam-ul-haq was one of the cleanest hitters of the ball, and in this series he was in scintillating form. Knowing Inzamam’s intentions to hit the slower bowlers out of the park, Tendulkar was placed far straighter than the usual long-on. As expected, Inzamam did step out to Murali Kartik and hit the ball a long way. Just when it seemed it was going a maximum, Tendulkar surprised all with his efforts. He ran to his left, and not for a moment gave up. He judged the ball very well and then stretched full to catch the ball above his head, just inches from the boundary. What stood out was his balance against the ball’s momentum and of course his presence of mind.
Inzamam was capable of winning it for Pakistan and his wicket sealed the fate of the match and India went on to win the match by 40 runs, and the series 3-2. The special catch also finds a mention in Tendulkar’s autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’.
