Century No 81
117 not out vs Australia at SCG on Mar 2, 2008
Sachin was again the catalyst in India’s victory over the mighty Aussies defeating them in their own backyard. His calm and composed 117 along with youngster Rohit Sharma was enough to see off the Australians.
Score: 117*
Series: 2008 tri-series in Australia featuring India, Australia and Sri Lanka
Match: 1st Final: India V Australia
Venue: Sydney
Result: India won by 6 wickets
For all those who questioned Sachin’s temperament on big occasions, this inning served as the perfect response from the little master. Chasing 240 to take a crucial lead in the best-of-three finals, Sachin played right through the chase to help India ease past the 240-mark with 4 overs remaining. The fact that Sachin’s 117 only had 10 hits to the fence just shows how calculated his whole approach was.
Century No 82
109 vs Australia at Nagpur, on Nov 6, 2008
India batted first and managed to take their score to a total of 441. Sachin Tendulkar was the top scorer in the innings making 109 runs. He was well supported by Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and MS Dhoni. Australia were then sent to bat and managed to make 355. India in its second innings made 295 setting a target of 382 to win. The Aussies were bowled out for 209 and India won the match.
Score: 109
Series: Border-Gavaskar Trophy, 2008
Match: India V Australia, 4th test
Venue: Nagpur (Jamtha)
Result: India won by 172 runs
For a change, it was a completely one-sided test series between India and Australia as the kangaroos struggled to cope with transition. Coming into the final test at Jamtha, Nagpur, India held a slender 1-0 lead and the Aussies were desperate to show there was life in them after all. Any hope the Aussies nourished was soon punctured when India notched up 441 in the first innings thanks to a great century by Sachin.
Century No 83
103 not out vs England at Chennai, on Dec 15, 2008
England won the toss and chose to bat, putting up a score of 316 in their first innings. India were bowled out for a much lesser total of 241. The English then topped up their earlier total by 311. With a target of 387 to win, Gambhir and Sehwag set the stage for Sachin. Sachin scored a match winning 103 and Yuvraj’s 85 helped India win the match with six wickets to spare.
Score: 103
Series: Pataudi Trophy, 2008
Match: India V England, 1st test
Venue: Chennai
Result: India won by 6 wickets
This was easily one of the most special moments for Sachin in his career. The India-England series had been abruptly called off following the 26/11 Mumbai blasts and when it resumed after a month, Sachin wanted to do something special. He did so in style. India chased down a mammoth 387 in the final inning thanks to great unbeaten 103 by the little master at one of his favourite venues.
Century No 84
163 vs New Zealand at Christchurch, on Mar 8, 2009
India’s victory over the Kiwis was due to Sachin’s very important knock of 163 which helped them put up a massive target. In return, the Indian bowlers bowled with line and accuracy as they bundled out the New Zealand in a tight game.
Score: 163 retired hurt
Series: Bilateral ODI series, 2009
Match: India V New Zealand, 3rd ODI
Venue: Christchurch
Result: India won by 58 runs
AMI Stadium under lights always presents a fascinating sight to the eye and when someone like Sachin Tendulkar goes tearing apart the bowlers, it just adds to the glitz and excitement. Sachin was at his imperious best on the day and it was unfortunate he had to retire hurt on 163 with still 5 overs left. The world record and maybe even double hundred was within his sights. India made 392 and New Zealand played well but not well enough as they folded up for 334 in 45 overs.
Century No 85
160 vs New Zealand at Seddon Park, on March 20, 2009
India chose to field and put New Zealand to bat and the hosts managed to put up a total of 279 in their first innings. The Indians then came out to bat, and were bolstered by useful contributions from most of the players, but it was Sachin’s 160 that stood out as he helped guide the team to a total of 520. The hosts never recovered and India won the match with ease.
Score: 160
Series: Bilateral test series, 2009
Match: India V New Zealand, 1st test
Venue: Hamilton
Result: India won by 10 wickets
It is not often that a team from the sub-continent goes to New Zealand and beats the Kiwis. This Indian team was different. It was full of aggressive cricketers who no more feared the overseas surfaces. New Zealand batted first at Hamilton and made 279. India responded with 520 thanks to Sachin’s 160, which had 26 majestic hits to the fence. Trailing by 241, New Zealand fought gallantly in the second essay but were no match to the tough Indians.
Century No 86
138 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, on Sep 14, 2009
The Little Master rose to the occasion as his decisive knock of 138 proved to be vital in India’s victory over the Lankans in the final of the Compaq Cup. Sri Lanka failed to make a comeback as they lost by a margin of 46 runs.
Score: 138
Series: 2009 tri-series in Sri Lanka featuring India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand
Match: Final: India V Sri Lanka
Venue: Colombo (Premadasa)
Result: India won by 46 runs
A year after he guided India to a title triumph in Australia, Sachin took India to another title win. This time, it was in Sri Lanka in the final of tri-series. Batting first after winning the toss, India put up 319 on the board thanks to 138 by Sachin. The Little Master’s knock was laced with 10 fours and 1 six. The Lankans fought hard but folded up 46 runs short.
Century No 87
175 vs Australia at Hyderabad on Nov 5, 2009
Sachin’s knock of 175 in this game is still regarded as one of the best innings played by him but even though India drew very close to the target set up by the Aussies they still lost. India kept losing wickets at crucial times that handed momentum to Australians.
Score: 175
Series: Bilateral ODI series, 2009
Match: India V Australia, 5th ODI
Venue: Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi stadium)
Result: Australia won by 3 runs
Chasing down an improbable 351, India fought all the way through and was even ahead of the Aussies at many stages during the chase. This was largely due to Sachin’s magnificent inning of 175 where he single-handedly demolished the Aussie bowling attack. The sad part was he got out just when he shouldn’t have and India lost momentum to eventually lose the match by just 3 runs.
Century No 88
100 not out vs Sri Lanka at Ahmedabad, on Nov 20, 2009
India batted first in this match and scored 426 in their first innings. Sri Lanka then put up a strong total of 760. Gambhir started strongly with a century with Sehwag for support. However Dravid and night watchman Mishra fell in quick succession and it was up to Tendulkar and VVS Laxman who guided India out of the dark. Sachin scored a century and was well supported by VVS and together they saved the day. The match was drawn.
Score: 100*
Series: Bilateral test series, 2009
Match: India V Sri Lanka, 1st test
Venue: Ahmedabad
Result: Match drawn
It was a match-saving effort from Sachin in a test where most things went wrong for India. The bowlers had conceded a record 760 at home against the Lankans and then had their backs to the wall while trying to avoid the prospect of innings loss. Sachin played out five hours for his century and kept the Lankans spin attack led by Muttiah Muralitharan at bay.
Century No 89
105 not out vs Bangladesh at Chittagong, on Jan 18, 2010
India were sent in to bat, and their feet failed them miserably. Sachin Tendulkar tried to salvage some pride with a century of 105 but the team still managed to put up a measly score of only 243 runs. In response, Bangladesh in their first innings managed to score 242. Things improved in the second innings with India putting up a total of 413. Bangladesh were bowled out for 301 and India won the match by 113 runs.
Score: 105*
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V Bangladesh, 1st test
Venue: Chittagong
Result: India won by 113 runs
Sachin was a lone warrior in a very poor Indian batting effort in the first innings. The Little master scored 105 in an Indian 1st innings effort of 243. India made amends in the second innings to make 413 to win the match by a handsome margin. Sachin’s brilliant 105 in the first essay came in just 166 balls.
Century No 90
143 vs Bangladesh at Mirpur, on Jan 25, 2010
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat, but only managed to put up a total of 233. India put up a great batting display amassing 544 runs, with magnificient knocks from Rahul Dravid(111) and Sachin Tedulkar(143). Bangaldesh in their second innings only manged to score 312 leaving the hosts a target of 2 runs to win the match, which India did!
Score: 143
Series: Bilateral test series, 2010
Match: India V Bangladesh, 2nd test
Venue: Mirpur
Result: India won by 10 wickets
Days after scoring a wonderful century to help India to respectability at Chittagong, Sachin came up with the goods again at Mirpur. He blasted 143 off just 182 balls as India made 544 in their first innings and that was enough to take them to a sound win in the match and wrap up the series 2-0.
Next post
