While the cricket is taking a break amid coronavirus outbreak, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is recalling the memory and remembering the legendary incidents. On last Monday (20th April), the ICC shared the legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s international cricket stats at the age of 20-year-old. Later, Tendulkar added one of his greatest performances at the high-pressure match during that young age.
Sachin Tendulkar made his international cricket debut in late 1989 at the age of 16-year-old. At the of 20-year-old, the right-handed batsman Tendulkar scored 4,132 runs in 108 international matches, including seven centuries, and also had a Test average of 50.57. The ICC recently shared these incredible stats on social media accounts.
In reply, Tendulkar also reminded his match-winning last over spell against South Africa during the semi-final of the Hero Cup 1993 (CAB Jubilee Tournament) at Eden Gardens (Kolkata). The 20-year-old Tendulkar heroically defended six runs in the last-over of that game and guided to his team to the final of that tournament.
Also bowled a fun last over in a semi-final match against South Africa at Eden Gardens! What a high pressure match that was, @ICC! ?#MeAt20 https://t.co/7pQPPIIsZ9
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 21, 2020
Sachin Tendulkar conceded only three runs in that final over, India won that thriller by just two runs
India played that game under Mohammad Azharuddin‘s captaincy on 24th November 1993. It was also the first ODI at the Eden Gardens (Kolkata) under the floodlight. After India decided to bat first, they scored 195 runs (50 overs), majorly thanks to the skipper Azharuddin (90) and Pravin Amre (48). Only Sachin Tendulkar (15) was the other Indian batsman to reach the double-digit mark in that innings.
In reply, South Africa were losing their wickets at regular intervals. However, they still managed to score 190/8 (49 overs) before the final of the game and the set batsman Brian McMillan was batting at the beginning of that final over.
Instead of the other bowlers, Azharuddin showed his faith in the youngster, Tendulkar, for that crucial match-deciding over, where South Africa were six runs behind from the victory. Tendulkar, who already picked up 19 international wickets, didn’t deliver a ball in that game before that final over.
After one run and a run-out on the very first ball of that over, Tendulkar delivered three successive dot balls to Allan Donald. South Africa took two singles on the final two balls of that match, but they fell two runs short from India’s total.