VIDEO: Saeed Anwar slams record 194 against India at Chennai

The then-Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar was honest enough to admit that it was the best ODI innings he had watched. In days when 200 in ODIs is no longer unthinkable, Saeed Anwar’s feat of Chennai may not look as colossal as it was at the time, but it was a surreal experience to those who witnessed it live.

It was at Manchester in 1984 that Viv Richards massacred the English bowling attack en route to an unbeaten 189, then the highest score in ODIs. Richards accounted for almost 70 percent of West Indies’ runs in that innings and England fell short of his score by 21 runs. For 13 long years, the record stood intact till — countering cramps and the sweltering Chennai heat — Anwar set off to overhaul it.

It was the 50th year of independence for both India and Pakistan. The arch-rivals faced each other in the sixth match of the Independence Cup in 1997. Rameez Raja elected to bat and thereon it was an Anwar show. Shahid Afridi, who had opened with Anwar, fell early but made his way back to the crease as early as 18th over. He returned as a runner for Anwar, and that made life easier for the left-hander; but the likes of Glenn Turner in the commentary box loathed the fact.

Nothing should be taken away from the innings though; he toyed with the Indian bowlers with some superb strokeplay. Bowling a spinner at the death was always a gamble but Tendulkar opted to do so anyway thanks to Anil Kumble’s massive reputation. It did not work for India, as Kumble’s over, the 41st of the innings, went for2, 2, 6, 6, 6 and 4. Anwar cared for no reputation.

A well-timed sweep off Tendulkar in the 47th over took him past Richards’ record. Staring at the abode of the almighty, Anwar celebrated with raised arms and looked set for the first ever 200 in ODIs.  Attempting another sweep, he top-edged Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly took a running catch at short fine-leg to halt one of one-day cricket’s greatest displays.

13 years later, in 2010, Tendulkar went on to become the first player to reach the magic 200-run mark. Till then Anwar’s colossal at Chennai stood at the top.

194 runs, 22 fours and 5 towering sixes contributed to over 59 percent of his team’s runs (327), on days when 250 was considered a safe total. India fought back and riding on Rahul Dravid’s maiden ODI hundred (107) managed 292, falling short by 35 runs.

Brief Scores:

Pakistan 327 for 5 in 50 overs [Saeed Anwar 194 (146), Ijaz Ahmed 39, Inzamam-ul-Haq 39 (33); Sachin Tendulkar 9-0-61-2] bt India 292 in 49.2 overs [Rahul Dravid 107 (116); Aaqib Javed 10-0-61-5] by 35 runs.

(Suvajit Mustafi consumes cricket for lunch, fiction for dinner and munches numerous other snacks throughout the day. Yes, a jack of several trades, all Suvajit dreamt of was being India’s World Cup winning skipper but ended up being a sports writer, author, screenwriter, director, copywriter, graphic designer, sports marketer, strategist, entrepreneur, philosopher and traveller. Donning so many hats, it’s cricket which gives him the ultimate high and where he finds solace. He can be followed at @RibsGully and rivu7)