On This Day: Sachin Tendulkar picks his career-best ODI bowling figures vs Australia in Kochi

Sachin Tendulkar picks his career-best ODI bowling figures: The Master Blaster bowled a match-winning spell to turn the tables.

During the first match of the Pepsi Triangular Series between India and Australia in Kochi, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar registered his career-best bowling figures of 10-1-32-5 to win the match for India with the ball in hand.

Chasing a formidable 310-run target in 49 overs, Australia were cruising along until Tendulkar put a halt to a 60-run partnership between Australia all-rounder Michael Bevan and captain Steve Waugh (26).

With Australia needing 107 runs in 111 deliveries at this point in time, it was expected of them to seal the chase. Having said that, Tendulkar’s maiden ODI five-wicket haul restricted the visitors to 268/10 in 45.5 overs.

Darren Lehmann (8), who came in as Steve Waugh’s replacement, couldn’t last long either as he was found wanting in front of the stumps against Tendulkar’s off-spin.

On the last delivery of the 40th over, Tendulkar deceived Bevan (65) by bowling down the leg-side when the southpaw was stepping out of his crease. Apart from stumping Bevan with his swift hands, India wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia treated Tom Moody (23) in the same manner in Tendulkar’s following over.

Australia’s hopes of starting the series on a winning note came to an end when their last recognized batsman in Damien Martyn (2) was caught by India pacer Javagal Srinath off Tendulkar in the 44th over. The dismissal also welcomed Tendulkar to the list of bowlers with ODI five-wicket hauls.

Earlier, it was India captain Mohammad Azharuddin who won the toss and chose to bat at the Nehru Stadium. Coming in to bat at No. 5 in the 14th over, India batsman Ajay Jadeja top-scored for his team with 105 * (109) with the help of 12 fours. Other than Jadeja, Azharuddin (82) and Hrishikesh Kanitkar (57) scored individual half-centuries.

Sachin Tendulkar picks his career-best ODI bowling figures

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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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