Zaheers breaks Srinaths record and Sachin finishes a match.
On 5th November 2009 Sachin Tendulkar's blistering innings of 175 almost took India to a famous victory at Hyderabad against Australia. Millions of Indians and fans world wide were upset with the fact that actually it was India which lost the match than Australia winning the match inspite of Aussies piling up a monumental 350 while batting first. On 15th December 2009 many Indians would accept the fact that it was Sri Lankans who deserved to win the match more than India for they almost got to the target with the minimum of efforts.
Indian media were all in praise of pacers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra and complimenting them for bowling beautifully. In fact it was this pace duo of Zaheer Khan and Ashir Nehra which almost lost the match for India conceding 169 runs in 20 overs. Zaheer Khan also broke Javagal Srinath dubious Indian record for conceding the most of runs in an one dayer. In the 2003 World Cup Final against Australia at Johannesburg, Javagal Srinath after being thrashed by Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting ended up with figures of 10-0-87-0 while Zaheer Khan did one better conceding an extra running without picking a single wicket. While Srinath lost the World Cup for India, Zaheer was a shade lucky to be spared the humilation. In fact Zaheer and Nehra had figures of 0 for 71 in 7 overs and 0 for 46 in 5 overs when the Sri Lankan top order of Tilakratne Dilshan, Upul Taranga and Kumar Sangakkara were at the crease. It was only after the exit of entire Sri Lankan top order that skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni had the courage to bring back the duo of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra back. The fact that the duo still went for 52 runs in 8 overs against the lower order does not speak highly of them.
Sachin Tendulkar is often blamed for not finishing of matches. Sachin Tendulkar and his fans will remember the Rajkot one dayer forever because Sachin won the match for India in the most unusual role of a fielder. With Sri Lanka needing a mere 14 runs in 11 overs and with Kandamby and Mathews well set at the crease having compiled a 56 run partnership in just 47 deliveries, Sachin effected a run out. Effecting a run out at such a critical stage requires lot of mental courage because it involves a risk because if the throw misses the stumps it could easily end up going for extra runs in the form of overthrows which could have put India in deeper trouble and there is more trouble in the form of unforgiving millions in Indian who are so passionte that they cannot tolerate losing. However Sachin intelligently aimed closer to the stumps than hitting it to ensure that there is a run out if the bowler collects it and if the bowler fails to collect the throw, then there are no overthrows. That run out almost sealed the match. Sachin showed exemplary intelligence in a high pressure situation.
While the match was almost as good as over with Kandambys run out, Sri Lanka still had a chance with 6 runs required of 3 balls and with big hittingMathews at the crease. With 80 fours and 24 sixes already hit in the match, it was no big deal for Mathews a renowed big hitter in the Sri Lankan team to get a six or a boundary and couple of runs to win the match and Mathews got a golden chance when Ashish Nehra bowled a full toss. Fortunately for India, the ball went straight into Sachin's hands. The catch was not easy for Sachin because he had to jump and dive to his right to take catch. Sachin had to time his jump to perfection, because had the ball gone over half an inch over Sachin or to his right, then it was a easy boundary as there were no fielders backing up. Mathews must consider himself unlucky for he missed a sure boundary by just a fraction of inch and had the ball gone to the boundary, Sri Lanka needed a mere 2 runs in 2 deliveries to win the match and just a single to tie the match.
While one should feel sorry for Sri Lankans that their epic chase ended up in tragedy, Sachin for once should be credited for finisshing of a match.
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