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On January 14, 1998, Sachin Tendulkar starred in the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup final, taking 3/45 and scoring 95 runs to lead India to victory over Pakistan.
On January 14, 1998, Sachin Tendulkar became the youngest player to score 6,000 ODI runs. (Image for representation: ICC/X, formerly Twitter)
On This day In 1998: Over the years, fans have witnessed innumerable thrilling matches between India and Pakistan. From the World Cup to the Champions Trophy, the two eternal rivals have faced each other in various competitions. In 1998, the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup staged one such epic game of cricket between the two Asian giants.
On this day (January 14) in 1998, India and Pakistan were involved in an enthralling fixture in the first final of the competition. Thanks to Sachin Tendulkar’s supreme all-round prowess, the Indian cricket team emerged victorious in that contest by a margin of eight wickets.
Tendulkar was also adjudged Player of the Match for his memorable performances with both bat and ball in Dhaka. In the same match, Tendulkar became the youngest player to reach 6,000 runs in ODIs.
As fans celebrate an epic game of cricket today, we look back at how India got the better of Pakistan in the first final of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup.
Winning the toss, the then-Pakistan skipper Rashid Latif decided to bat first. Pakistan’s opening partnership of 45 was broken by Harvinder Singh who dismissed Shahid Afridi for 29.
Aamer Sohail was the next to depart having scored 10 runs. Pakistan’s other opening batter Saeed Anwar also returned to the dressing room soon having scored 38 off 60 balls.
Sachin Tendulkar claimed the next wicket dismissing Ijaz Ahmed for 34. It was Tendulkar’s first scalp of the fixture. He went on to pick up the wickets of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Manzoor Akhtar. Tendulkar finished with sensational figures of 3/45 in seven overs.
Javagal Srinath also chipped in with two valuable wickets for India. Debasis Mohanty, Harvinder Singh and Sairaj Bahutule bagged one wicket each for India. Pakistan managed to score 212 at the loss of eight wickets.
India’s run chase got off to a flying start with their opening batters—Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly—stitching up a solid partnership of 159. Tendulkar was the first to depart scoring a brilliant half-century.
The Master Blaster missed out on a well-deserved century by five runs after Shahid Afridi dismissed him. Tendulkar’s 78-ball knock comprised six boundaries and five maximums.
Sourav Ganguly produced a vital knock of 68 off 87 deliveries. The-then India captain Mohammad Azharuddin remained unbeaten on 30 off 38 balls to guide India to an emphatic eight-wicket win. India scored the winning runs with 53 balls to spare.
