Master Stroke

This is not too late for South Africa to prove its mettle – they have done it several times – but, what happened at Eden Garden on Monday February 15, 2010 has been written in the history of world cricket and world class sportsmanship. The crowd at Kolkata’s Eden Garden went home after having been treated to a stunning display of stroke play as the two players (read geniuses) put on a 249-run partnership for the third wicket – an ordeal – the South Africans will not forget too soon, leaving them with no option but to win the match to dislodge India from the number one position in the Test rankings.

It was a game where fortunes did not fluctuate much. It was but a remarkable exhibition of talent and stroke play by both the masters – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar and Virendra Sehwag. While the master blaster Sachin notched up his 47th ton, the crowd also witnessed Sehwag’s 19th century to reach 342 for five at close on the second day.

The only disappointing fact was that the home team lost three key wickets in quick succession at the fag end.

But both Sehwag) and Tendulkar fell at the fag end of the day, but before they who unleashed some superb shots, and there wasn’t an iota of any discomfort at all against the South Africans, who tried every trick in their attempt to break the partnership, however, without much luck.

The game will be remembered for various reasons. First the magic which the 36-year-old batsman demonstrated, as he played each stroke with finesse causing spinner Paul Harris bowl negative line outside the leg stump.

His cheeky singles, with fours and sixes were a delight to watch. No amount of statistics can do justice to the runs Sachin had put. His disciplined dedication and for the game is a reflection to the 20 years of commitment he displayed, yet once again.

Moreover, it was Tendulkar’s fourth century in this series. The first Test was against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month. He hit his second century in the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur and his third came in the first Test of the ongoing series in Nagpur.

Sehwag supported the master blaster throughout the game, a partnership of 249 runs. Sehwag was out for 165, while Tendulkar scored 106. The Tendulkar-Sehwag partnership enabled India to take the lead over the Proteas.
As one watched Sachin play his strokes, one could feel the geniuses hand at work dismantling all prejudices and false notions that with age one loses the technique and style of the game.
Tendulkar now has over 18000 runs from over 440 matches since making his debut in 1989. The first player to score fifty centuries in all international cricket combined, he now has more than eighty international centuries.

It was a mighty innings from a genius who has seen it all in the field in these 20 years – from back injury to media’s criticism – and has proved it again, that masters remain masters.

Incessant applauses on Monday at the Eden Gardens greeted the maestro as he crossed another milestone. It seemed it was the first match a young Tendulkar was playing as the hit hard.

Sachin’s achievements are many and yet he remains humble. Against Australia, Tendulkar has scored 2,995 runs, including nine centuries and against Sri Lanka he has amassed 2749 runs with eight centuries. Tendulkar also has an impressive record against arch-rivals Pakistan, against whom he has scored 2,389 runs including five centuries.

In Kolkata, Sachin again proved his commitment to the game and a desire to keep getting better each time he plays. Another journey awaits – a new milestone – as the world waits to see the master strike again.

ENDS#