10India V/s Australia – 1998
Coca cola Cup was played at Sharjah in 1998. It was a tri-nation championship featuring India, Australia and New Zealand. India had not managed to win a single match against Australia during the league matches and going into the penultimate match they needed to score at least 254 runs to get past New Zealand in the run rate and qualify for the final. India managed to do that owing to the swashbuckling display of batting from the Little Magician, Sachin Tendulkar. With his 143 off 131 balls in the sweltering heat of Sharjah, he had little time to recover for the match which was due to be played the day after next. But, he was ready!
The Final doesn’t have a pulsating run chase but it does have the inning which will be remembered for long. This inning went a long way in cementing Sachin’s place amongst the greatest to have graces a cricket field. Having won the toss, India put Australia in to bat first and were instantly redeemed for the decision. Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Tom Moody were quickly back in the stand with Australia on 26 in 6 overs. Bevan then had 2 substantial partnerships, first with Gilchrist for 59 runs and then with Steve Waugh for 36 runs before he was run out. Waugh and Lehmann then combined together to build up a partnership of 103 runs before Waugh was snapped up by Kanitkar in the 43rd over. Australia was able to post 272 for the loss of 9 wickets in their 50 overs.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE WHICH ONE OF HIS TONS IS THE GREATEST EVER