Tendulkar’s century sends India storming into final

Australia claimed victory owing to faster scoring rate after they had rode on Michael Bevan’s unbeaten 101 to pile up 284 for seven in 50 overs on electing to bat first, but Tendulkar’s stunning heroics sent India hurtling past the target of 237 they had to achieve to outwit New Zealand on better net run rate.

The little champion cut out early aggression to remain entrenched at one end even as victory was first threatened due to fall of wickets at the other end and then due to a25-minute stoppage owing to a sudden sandstorm with India at a very precarious 143 for four in 31 overs.

But the 24-year-old maestro came out with guns blazing to crack his 14th One-Day hundred worth its weight in gold and also surpassed his previous best of 137 made in the 1996 Wills World Cup against Sri Lanka at Delhi, before being dismissed in the 43rd over after seeing India through to the safety of a final meeting against the same opponents on April 24, his birthday. Tendulkar, once again forced to curb his natural instincts after the early dismissal of fellow opener Saurav Ganguly (17), raised 69 runs for the second wicket with Nayan Mongia (35: 46b, 4×4, 1×6), who did an outstanding job on being promoted up the order.

Mongia, skipper Mohammed Azharuddin (14) and Ajay Jadeja (1) fell in quick succession and any slim hopes India nurtured to make the final — at that stage to either score 285 for a win or reach 254 to pip the Kiwis on net run rate — rested on Tendulkar.

But Tendulkar played one ofthe most invaluable innings of his career with superb running between the wickets in the company of V V S Laxman (23 not out: 34b, 1×4) to keep the chase going before the sandstorm, forcing the players off the ground, interrupted.

With the overs reduced to 46 and India having to make 276 for an outright win or 237 to make it on net run rate, Tendulkar attacked the bowling with fresh gusto despite tiring fast in the humidity.

He reached his century off only 111 balls (5×4, 3×6) studded with three sixes off paceman Mike Kasprowicz before simply shifting gears. He sent Steve Waugh and Stephen Fleming for huge sixes and added a flurry of boundaries to suddenly make the target — 94 runs off 15 overs on resumption after the break — shrink rapidly. India reached the first target of 237 in 42.4 overs as Tendulkar hit Fleming for a six and a four in succession before ending his chancy knock — surviving a few close run out chances and the catch dropped by Damien Martyn off the final four he hit off Flemingtowards long-on — ended as he gloved an attempted hook off Fleming the next ball.

Zimbabwean umpire Ian Robinson adjudged him caught behind but Tendulkar was unhappy as the ball was over shoulder height and he expected a no ball to be called.

The Tendulkar-Laxman sixth wicket stand worth 104 came in only 14 overs, and on his exit, left-hander Hrishikesh Kanitkar (5 not out) gave company to Laxman though neither could go after the bowling.

Man-of-the-match Tendulkar’s hurricane effort overshadowed all else in the thrilling contest and fetched him a bounty of pounds sterling 20,000 special prize announced by Coca Cola.

Earlier, opener Mark Waugh (81: 99b, 7×4, 2×6) with Ricky Ponting (31: 26b, 4×4, 1×6) flayed the pedestrian Indian attack before Bevan (101 not out: 103b, 9×4) paced himself to a nicety in cracking his third One-Day hundred to crush Indian hopes of any easy passage to the final.

SCOREBOARD

Australia: Adam Gilchrist c Mongia b Harvinder 11, Mark Waugh c Ganguly bTendulkar 81, Ricky Ponting st Mongia b Harbhajan 31, Damien Martyn b Kumble 1, Michael Bevan not out 101, Steve Waugh run out (Tendulkar) 10, Darren Lehmann b Prasad 26, Tom Moody c Azharuddin b Prasad 5, Shane Warne not out 7;

Extras: (lb4, w6, nb1) 11.

Total: (for 7 wickets in 50 overs) 284.

Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-84, 3-87, 4-177, 5-197, 6-250, 7-271.

Bowling: Prasad 8-0-41-2, Harvinder 7-0-44-1, Kumble 10-0-41-1, Harbhajan 8-0-63-1, Ganguly 2-0-15-0, Kanitkar 6-0-33-0, Laxman 4-0-16-0, Tendulkar 5-0-27-1.

India: Saurav Ganguly lbw Fleming 17, Sachin Tendulkar c Gilchrist b Fleming 142, Nayan Mongia c Mark Waugh b Tom Moody 35, M Azharuddin b Moody 14, Ajay Jadeja c Gilchrist b Steve Waugh 1, V V S Laxman not out 23, Hrishikesh Kanitkar not out 5;

Extras (lb6, w3, nb4) 13.

Total (for five wickets in 46 overs) 250

Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-107, 3-135, 4-138, 5-242.

Bowling: Fleming 10-0-46-2, Kasprowicz 9-0-55-0, Warne 9-0-38-0, Moody 9-0-40-2, Steve Waugh 9-0-65-1.

Man of theMatch: Sachin Tendulkar