Published: Jan 18, 2016, 08:00 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 18, 2016, 08:00 PM (IST)
In the early 2000s, Wisden ranked Sourav Ganguly as one of the greatest ODI batsmen. The southpaw by then had done enough as an opener for India to justify the tag. Here’s one from the vault. On this day, in 1998, India met Pakistan in the third final of the Silver-Jubilee Independence Cup in Dhaka. India had won the first final while Pakistan came back strong to win the second.
The stage was set for an enthralling contest in the third game which began on a chilly Dhaka morning. It surely didn’t start well for India. A 230-run third-wicket stand between Saeed Anwar (140) and Ijaz Ahmed (117) helped Pakistan to 314 in their stipulated 48 overs. Those were times when 250s were considered to be winning totals and Pakistan dominated contests against India. Odds were heavily in favour of the former, and India had an uphill task against a good Pakistani bowling attack. What went against them were the foggy conditions and poor light. Also Read: Sourav Ganguly’s 19 memorable innings across formats
But an indomitable spirit saw India through. Opening the innings with Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly benefited from his partner’s belligerent approach. The early burst from the Little Master (41 from 26-balls), who had then recently been relieved from his captaincy duties, helped India get the early momentum. India’s pinch-hitter those days, Robin Singh came at No.3 and provided Ganguly good support as they went on to add 179 for the second wicket. Robin fell for 82 but the 25-year-old left-hander carried on. He timed the ball to perfection and set it up well.
Light had deteriorated and football lights were taken into full effect. When Ganguly fell, India still needed 41 from 31-balls. ‘The prince of Kolkata’ scored 124 from 138-balls, an innings that contained 11 boundaries and a six off Shahid Afridi. In utmost difficult conditions, the lower order managed to take it to the last over. With 3 needed from last 2 balls of the final over from the wily Saqlain Mushtaq, an unheralded Hrishikesh Kanitkar attempted a sweep which neither the commentators nor the fielders could see. It was a boundary and a world record overhauled. Ganguly was duly given the Man-of-the-Match award.
