An event in Dhaka meant to mark 25 years of Bangladesh’s independence may not be something that Pakistan would call a celebration. Yet, it’s funny that Pakistan contributed most to the festivities of the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup. It all seemed that they believed reclamation of territory through cricket was not just a silly dream of Imran Khan. On the 18th of January 1998, our exciting neighbour did everything that a team batting first can do to win a cricket match. But once more, Pakistan lost a war. However, they didn’t go into the bad light, without a fight.
It was the third final in the best-of-three tussle. The two nations had settled scores in the previous two finals—tense matches that seemed as interesting as women’s throw ball compared to what was about to unfold. When Azharuddin won the toss and asked Pakistan to bat first, he didn’t know it would put up a score that had never been surpassed by a chasing team in odi history. Worse still, it was a curtailed match in which two overs in each innings were removed due to fear of poor visibility. 313 by Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe was the highest run-chase then in 50 overs, and Pakistan had set a target of 315, to be achieved in 48 overs. It was one of Saeed Anwar’s days. To make matters worse for India, it was also one of Ijaz Ahmed’s days. Now that is dying twice for a bowling team. They had belted the Indians all over Dhaka’s National Stadium where both countries could claim home advantage.
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When Ganguly and Tendulkar came to bat, the task was fairly clear. They had to achieve something that had never been done before. But they didn’t look like men who had read the statistics. Instead, it seemed someone had told them that they had to wind up by the 40th over. Such was the merciless hitting of the two openers. Pakistan saved themselves from Sachin in the ninth over. Then senior citizen Robin Singh and Ganguly put on a brilliant partnership. It was a brisk and self-assured association that just went on and on. When Singh fell, the score was 250 in the 39th over. 65 was required of 54 balls. The match was evenly poised till the Indian art of self-destruction took over from the 42nd over.
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Azhar went cheaply. Ganguly left after making what was his highest score then. Sidhu, whom only off-spinners would have wanted to kill those days because his English was a secret, became a cycle in his own cycle stand theory. Jadeja and Mongia too joined the procession. Six wickets had fallen in 4 overs. With just three wickets in hand, India needed nine runs from the last six balls. Kanitkar and Srinath were in the middle.
Saqlain Mushtaq, who was sent in to bowl, brought it all down to three runs to win of the last two balls. The light was bad. But Mushtaq’s fifth ball lit up Kanitkar’s eyes. He hit it over mid-wicket for the most famous four he has ever scored. Contrary to all theories, India had beaten Pakistan in the final, recording the most successful chase ever at that time. Kanitkar became one of those momentary heroes, of whom historically there are many in cricket. It still is his best moment and there is a suspicion that it will always be.
This That
- India’s reply of 316 was the highest-ever successful run chase then
- The match referee was Mike Denness who then was yet to make himself famous in India
- Ganguly’s 124 was his highest score at that time in his career
