Century No 61
105 vs England at Chester-Le-Street on Jul 4, 2002
Defeat was written on the cards for Team India but Sachin made sure his calm and composed innings of 105 set up a challenging score. The match though ended with no result.
Score: 105*
Series: 2002 Tri-series in England featuring India, England and Sri Lanka
Match: India V England, 5th match of the tournament
Venue: Chester-le-Street
Result: No result
India had begun the tri-series with a bang by beating both England and Sri Lanka in their opening fixtures. Then came this day-night clash at Chester-le-Street. India won the toss and decided to leave the chasing to England. Sachin and Yuvraj blasted the hapless English bowling attack to all parts of the ground on their way to a staggering 170-run partnership. Sachin eased his way to 105 and remained not out at the end of 50 overs. England’s chase was halted in the 13th over by the weather Gods and that was it. No result.
Century No 62
113 vs Sri Lanka, Bristol, England, on Jul 11, 2002
India and Sri Lanka locked horns again as Sachin’s 113 guided his team towards 300 and went on to defeat the Lankans. Sri Lankan batsmen did try their level best to make inroads but it was too late.
Score: 113
Series: 2002 Tri-series in England featuring India, England and Sri Lanka
Match: India V Sri Lanka, 9th match of the tournament Venue:
Result: India won by 63 runs
Barely a week after he caressed English bowlers at Chester-le-Street, Sachin was in ominous touch again. This time, it was against the Lankans. He smashed 113 off just 102 balls to help India surge past the 300-run mark and that did the trick. The Lankans did put up some resistance but it was a case of too-little-too-late from them.
Century No 63
193 vs England at Headingley, Leeds, on Aug 23, 2002
India opened the innings and posted a massive total of 628. This match will be remembered forever as one in which Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar scored Test hundreds. Some disciplined Indian bowling had England all out for 273.The were forced to follow on and scored 309. India won the match by an innings and 46 runs.
Score: 193
Series: Bilateral test series, 2002
Match: India V England, 3rd test
Venue: Headingly
Result: India won by an innings and 46 runs
This has to rank among the greatest test victories for India on two counts. First, it came in difficult overseas conditions in England and second, it came when they had their backs to the wall. India notched up 628 for 8 in their first innings with centuries from Dravid, Sachin and Ganguly. The trio never needed to bat again in the test match as Kumble & Co finished off England twice to inflict an innings defeat.
Century No 64
176 vs West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Nov 3, 2002
India managed to notch up a score of 358. West Indies in reply scored 497. India in its second innings put up a diciplined batting display to help save the match. Sourav Ganguly scored 154 and Sachin’s 176 guided Team India to safety. The match was drawn.
Score: 176
Series: Bilateral test series, 2002
Match: India V West Indies, 3rd test
Venue: Kolkata
Result: Match drawn
India had already won the test series 2-0 coming in to the final test at Eden Gardens. West Indies, by taking a handy first innings lead of 139 runs put tremendous pressure on India. At one stage, India was reduced to 87 for 4 in the second innings. This is when Sachin and Laxman came together and punctured West Indies hopes once and for all. Sachin’s match-saving knock lasted 7 hours and was laced with 26 superb hits to the fence.
Century No 65
152 vs Namibia, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, on Feb 23, 2003
Sachin’s World Cup campaign took off with a blistering knock of 152 against the minnows Namibia and as India defeated them by a margin of 181 runs. Sachin was also involved in a century partnership with captain Ganguly.
Score: 152
Series: World Cup 2003
Match: India V Namibia, Pool A fixture
Venue: Pietermaritzburg
Result: India won by 181 runs
India had come into this Pool A fixture after a drubbing only a week ago at the hands of defending champions Australia. Against Namibia, it was always going to be an easy outing for India but the question was how easy. The famous ODI combo of Sachin and Ganguly came to the party again with a stand of 244 for the second wicket (Sehwag had started opening by then). Sachin’s 152 had 18 hits to the fence and interestingly none over it.
Century No 66
100 vs Australia, Gwalior, on Oct 26, 2003
Sachin and Laxman guided the innings to safety as both set up a match-winning partnership to steer India towards an all important victory over the mighty Aussies. The performance rightly earned Sachin the Man of the Match award.
Score: 100
Series: 2003 Tri-series featuring India, Australia and New Zealand
Match: India V Australia, 2nd match of the tournament
Venue: Gwalior
Result: India won by 37 runs
India versus Australia was beginning to gain momentum ever since the two sides clashed in the World Cup final the same year in South Africa. In this clash, India had lost Sehwag in the very first over to Nathan Bracken. Sachin and Laxman then steadied the ship with a 190-run partnership for the second wicket. Both batsmen got centuries and helped India reach a commanding 283 from their 50 overs. Australia was in the hunt with Gilchrist getting a quickfire 83 but once he departed, it was India all the way. Sachin also picked up a wicket.
Century No 67
102 vs New Zealand in Hyderabad on Nov 15, 2003
Sehwag might have received all the laurels against the Kiwis but it was Sachin’s 102 which stood apart. Both the openers steered towards a famous victory as India won the game with ease.
Score: 102
Series: 2003 Tri-series featuring India, Australia and New Zealand
Match: India V New Zealand, 9th match of the tournament
Venue: Hyderabad
Result: India won by 145 runs
Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium is easily one of Sachin’s favourite venues. Back in 1999, Sachin had killed the kiwi bowling at the same venue on his way to a great knock of 186. And here he was again against the same opponent. This time, it was a lot lesser than 186 since Sehwag was keen to steal the limelight with his 130. Nonetheless, Sachin’s century and his opening wicket stand of 182 with Viru took India to a comfortable 145-run over New Zealand.
Century No 68
241 not out vs Australia at SCG on Jan 4, 2004
India won the toss and chose to bat amassing a total of 705 thanks to some good batting by most of the players. Sachin Tendulkar’s 241 and VVS Laxman’s 178 will long be remembered in this match. Australia in its second innings scored 474. India in its second innings scored 211 before declaring, leaving a target of 411 to win. Australia made 357. The match ended in a draw.
Score: 241*
Series: Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2004
Match: India V Australia, 4th test
Venue: Sydney
Result: Match drawn
It was an epic clash at the SCG and it had an epic performance from an epic cricketer. Sachin Tendulkar blasted his first hundred of the series and what a knock it was. It helped India shatter many records while racing to 705 for 7 against the mighty Aussies. It needed a combination of poor umpiring and gritty Steve Waugh to ensure Australia would walk away with a draw. Sachin’s knock was laced with 33 hits to the boundary and lasted more than 10 hours. What concentration!
Century No 69
141 vs Pakistan in Rawalpindi, on Mar 16, 2004
The hosts Pakistan had posted a mammoth total of 329 but Sachin’s composed141 ensured India were in the hunt. His innings which included 17 fours and 1 six was a spectacle for the Pakistan crowd even though India went on to lose the game.
Score: 141
Series: Bilateral ODI series, 2004
Match: India V Pakistan, 2nd ODI
Venue: Rawalpindi
Result: Pakistan won by 12 runs
Three days after winning a nail-biter at Lahore, India came into the second ODI at Pindi with confidence on a high. The bowlers allowed that to be punctured somewhat with ordinary effort as Pakistan batsmen, led by top order piled up 329 in 50 overs. India responded in style with Sachin leading from the front with a solid 141. Sachin’s knock came from just 135 balls and put India on course for a great win until the middle order failed to come up with the goods. India ended 12 short.
Century No 70
194 not out vs Pakistan at Multan, on Mar 29, 2004
India batted first in this match and managed to make 675 runs. This innings belonged to V Sehwag who made 309 runs and Sachin’s 194. Sachin was left not out when India decided to declare. Pakistan then came into bat and were bowled out for 407. They were forced to take a follow on and made 216. India won this match by an innings and 52 runs.
Score: 194
Series: Bilateral test series, 2004
Match: India V Pakistan, 1st test
Venue: Multan
Result: India won by an innings and 52 runs
This was an out and out Sehwag match, which is why very few remember Sachin’s performance in this historic clash. Many Indian teams had travelled to Pakistan over the years but none could actually inflict massive defeats on the Pakistanis. Sehwag scored his maiden triple century and Sachin 194 as India piled up 675 in their first innings. Sachin was actually unbeaten when captain Dravid decided to declare. There was a lot of hue and cry that followed. Many were unhappy with Dravid for not giving Sachin a chance to complete his double century.
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