On This Day: VVS Laxman scores maiden ODI century vs Australia in Margao

VVS Laxman scores maiden ODI century: The Indian batsman continued his top form during the historic series against Australia.

On this day in 2001, former India batsman VVS Laxman registered his maiden ODI century to continue his top form against Australia.

After the then India captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat, the hosts lost an early wicket in the form of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar (12).

Coming in to bat at No. 3 in the fifth over, Laxman was part of an integral 105-run partnership for the second wicket alongside Ganguly (74).

With India scoring below a run rate of three in the first 10 overs, both Ganguly and Laxman started to express themselves after finding their feet.

Batting on a slow pitch at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Laxman seldom showed signs of not being able to play his shots especially after getting his eye in. Him cover driving Australia all-rounder Ian Harvey for a boundary in the 11th over was a proof of the same.

Laxman’s best came during a 97-run stand for the third wicket alongside Rahul Dravid (31). From playing a lofted straight drive off Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath to flicking all-rounder Andrew Symonds, Laxman didn’t let any scoring opportunity go waste against the visiting pacers.

Equally dominant against the Australian spinners, Laxman pulled part-time bowler Darren Lehmann’s rank-short deliveries for boundaries and frequently stepped out to hit legendary spinner Shane Warne for the same result.

It was on the first delivery of the 43rd over when Laxman ran a single off Symonds to reach the three-figure mark for the first time in ODIs. Laxman, who got out to Harvey in the following over, ended up scoring 101 (107) with the help of 10 fours.

Despite scoring 265/6 in the series decider, India lost the match as half-centuries from Australian opening batsman Adam Gilchrist (76) and middle-order batsman Michael Bevan (87*) powered the visitors to victory in the 48th over.

VVS Laxman scores maiden ODI century

For more cricket-related news, click here.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

Read More