On this day in 1995, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar scored his fourth ODI century which saw him leading India to a comprehensive 8-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the fifth match of Asia Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.
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Chasing a 203-run target, Tendulkar’s glorious innings powered India to seal the chase in the 34th over. Opening the batting with Manoj Prabhakar (60), Tendulkar and the illustrious all-rounder shared a 161-run opening partnership to lay an apt foundation for the remaining batsmen.
Facing Chaminda Vaas and Janak Gamage early on, a confident Tendulkar drove both the Sri Lankan pacers at will as he put on display some elegant shots through the covers and down the ground.
Sachin Tendulkar’s match winning performance
Having played exceedingly well against the pacers, Tendulkar dabbed a Sanath Jayasuriya delivery on the leg-side to complete his half-century. Tendulkar, then 21, also stepped out to Jayasuriya to hit him down the ground in addition to continuing his attack against Vaas.
It was against Vaas that Tendulkar ran a single on the off-side to reach the three-figure mark. Tendulkar, who hit the winning runs off Champaka Ramanayake, ended up scoring 112* (107) with the help of 15 fours and a six to be declared the ‘Man of the Match’.
It was the then Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga who won the toss and chose to bat first. The Sri Lankan batsmen not converting their starts into a formidable innings saw them scoring a mediocre 202/9 in their allotted quota of 50 overs.
Coming in to bat at No. 6, Hashan Tillakaratne top-scored for his team with 48 (78) with the help of two fours. With bowling figures of 10-0-37-3, India pacer Venkatesh Prasad was the pick of their bowlers.
