Wisden
Wills International Cup 1998-99, third quarter-final

Australia v India

At Dhaka, October 28 (day/night). India won by 44 runs. Toss: Australia.

Tendulkar excelled even himself with a stunning all-round performance. He took the Australian attack apart to score his 19th one-day international century and went on to 141 off 128 balls, with three sixes and 13 fours, a domineering innings awesome in its certainty of touch. Australia, who 48 hours earlier had been winning a Test series in Pakistan, had understandably failed to observe the evolving strategy of this event, and put too much emphasis on fast bowling: Kasprowicz's first seven overs went for 62.

Mark Waugh tried to emulate Tendulkar, and gave Australia a chance. But most of the batsmen were daunted by a 308-run target and played too many rash shots, especially against Tendulkar, who bowled a mixture of off-breaks and leg-breaks and ended the match as he had started it: in complete control. Azharuddin became the first man to play 300 one-day internationals, but marked the occasion with a third-ball duck. India wore black badges to mark the death of former captain Ghulam Ahmed.

Man of the Match: S. R. Tendulkar.

© John Wisden & Co