On This Day: Sachin Tendulkar scored eighth ODI century vs Pakistan in Sharjah

Sachin Tendulkar scored eighth ODI century: The Master Blaster shared a match-winning 231-run partnership alongside Navjot Singh Sidhu.

On this day in 1996, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar had scored his eighth ODI century in the fourth match of the Sharjah Cup against Pakistan at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

In the two months prior to the match (including match day), Tendulkar had scored 772 runs in 12 ODIs at an average of 70.18 and a strike rate of 84.74 including four centuries and three half-centuries.

Coming on the back of two single-digit scores, Tendulkar found back his form despite India losing another opener in Vikram Rathour (2) cheaply.

Tendulkar joined hands with batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu as the duo stitched a match-winning 231-run partnership for the second wicket.

Tendulkar, then 22, ferociously pulled Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis in the eighth over to break the shackles. Having got his eye in, the right-hand batsman then smashed two fours down the ground in addition to a six over deep square leg in the 11th over bowled by Aaqib Javed.

It was on the penultimate delivery of the 36th over that Tendulkar guided a delivery on the leg-side to run for a single and complete his second ODI century against Pakistan.

Before getting out off Younis in the 45th over, Tendulkar scored a fantastic 118 (140) with the help of eight fours and two sixes. With Sidhu scoring 101 (117) with the help of three fours and three sixes, India scored a formidable 305/5 in 50 overs. With bowling figures of 10-2-44-3, Younis was the pick of the Pakistani bowlers.

Despite individual half-centuries from Pakistan captain Aamer Sohail (78) and wicket-keeper batsman Rashid Latif (50), Pakistan ended up losing the match 28 runs as India bundled out them for 277 in 46.1 overs. While Javagal Srinath had picked three wickets, Anil Kumble, Tendulkar and Venkatesh Prasad dismissed two batsmen each.

Sachin Tendulkar scored eighth ODI century

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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.

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