5 centuries that were overshadowed

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 19:  Cheteshwar Pujara of India bats during day three of the 2nd Test match between Australia and India at The Gabba on December 19, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia.  (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Pujara’s classy 113 was overshadowed by Tendulkar’s farewell and Rohit Sharma’s ton

In any format of cricket, a hundred is a special milestone for a batsman. The triple figure mark is regarded as a benchmark for judging greatness and hence a hundred is always a memorable affair.

The jumps, the screams, and the tears that follow the hundredth run are cheered heavily by the fans and most of the times, these moments are cherished for ages. Unfortunately, though, in the history of cricket, some centuries have gone unnoticed.

Each of these centuries deserve praise and recognition but due to several reasons, these high-quality batting efforts were overshadowed. Here, we go back in time and recollect the memories of five such great hundreds that were a result of some fine batsmanship but unfortunately, they never received their due credit.

#5 Cheteshwar Pujara: 113 vs West Indies at Mumbai, November 2013

It was a festival, Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell festival. After serving the game for more than two decades, the master finally decided to hang his boots after featuring in his 200th Test. The news stirred the cricketing world and BCCI, in no time, created the perfect atmosphere to bid adieu to the maestro.

A two-match Test series was organised against West Indies with Mumbai as the host for this historic Test. For two weeks, everyone talked about Tendulkar and nobody was in the limelight except the little master.

India’s spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and Ravi Ashwin wrecked the visitor’s batting line-up dismissing them at a paltry score of 182 on the first day of the Test. India’s openers offered a solid start but were out in the same over, bringing Cheteshwar Pujara and Tendulkar at the crease.

Since then Tendulkar took on the centre stage and didn’t disappoint the million eager fans by playing his vintage game. There were cuts, the trademark drives and flicks as well. He soon reached his fifty and fans geared up for a Tendulkar special hundred.

However, on the third morning of the Test, Sammy caught Tendulkar off Deonarine’s bowling and shattered a million dreams bringing the Wankhede to a standstill. The next batsman Virat Kohli cashed in on the momentum and scored a brisk half-century and later in the innings, Rohit Sharma notched up his second Test hundred in as many Tests, ensuring the limelight shifted from one Mumbai batsmen to another.

Also read: The significance of Cheteshwar Pujara

Meanwhile, Pujara kept one end secured with his impeccable defence. The right-hand batsman negotiated the threat of new ball and countered vicious spin extracted by the spinners. His calmness and composed strokeplay allowed him to quietly score runs while the cricketing world had its eyes glued on Sachin.

The Saurashtra batsman scored a boundary in the point region off his first ball and later played a straight drive and cover drive off Shillingford and Gabriel respectively which were as good as the master. He brought up his hundred on the 146th ball and 21 balls later, handed a simple catch to Shillingford on his own bowling.

Pujara scored 113 runs, preventing the West Indies bowlers from dominating the proceedings and helped India build a massive first innings lead.

#4 Ridley Jacobs: 107* vs England at Antigua, April 2004

ST JOHNS, ANTIGUA - APRIL 12:   Ridley Jacobs of the West Indies hits out on his way to a century during day three of the 4th Test match between the West Indies and England at the Recreation Ground on April 12, 2004 in St Johns, Antigua. (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
Jacob’s ton kept one end guarded allowing Lara to bat freely during his 400*

In the 4th Test in the England vs West Indies Test series in 2004, Brian Charles Lara made a forever lasting mark on Test cricket by becoming the first batsman to score 400 runs in an innings.

For 778 minutes, Lara played some outstanding cricket, scoring boundaries in his elegant style. The left-hander broke several records during his masterclass innings and the fans thoroughly enjoyed his classy batting display.

However, the best seat in the house was occupied by Ridley Jacobs who, while standing at the non-striker’s end, saw Lara unleash his flurry on the English bowlers.

The wicket-keeper batsman joined Lara when the latter was playing on 234 runs with the team score at 469 for five. As Lara looked invincible, the only chance for England to end the carnage was to pick wickets from the other end. Jacobs was the last genuine batsmen in the team with the tailenders were lined-up after him.

Also read: SK Flashback: When West Indies scripted a world record chase against Australia

Hence, England kept on attacking Jacobs in the pursuit of exposing the tail enders. However, the left-hand batsman showed tremendous resilience and allowed Lara to bat freely. The partnership lasted for 282 runs and Jacobs left the field unconquered after watching his captain reach the milestone of 400 runs.

As the Caribbean skipper bludgeoned the English bowlers, Jacobs from the other end scored, his century in a quiet yet graceful style. The hundred included eight fours and three sixes that reflected the wicket-keeper batsman’s powerful arms and aggression.

The Test will be forever remembered for Lara’s 400* but somewhere, Jacobs’ gritty 107 has surely left its mark as well.

#3 Tillakaratne Dilshan: 147 vs Australia at Hobart, December 2012

COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - APRIL 03:  Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka hits out during day1 of the second test match between Sri Lanka and England at the P Sara Stadium on April 3, 2012 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  (Photo by Tom Shaw/Getty Images)
Dilshan dominated Australia at Hobart, a rare feat for the visitors

Sri Lanka’s tours of Australia have mostly resulted in the hosts thrashing the visitors in Test matches. In 13 Tests so far, Australia have ten victories and three draws. Occasions of the visitors dominating the mighty Aussies have been rare and one such game arrived in Hobart in 2012 but was unfortunately overshadowed by Peter Siddle’s terrific pace bowling and Mike Hussey’s composed knock of 115 runs.

In the first Test against Sri Lanka in December 2012, Australia won the toss and their batsmen made the most of a good batting wicket by scoring 450 runs in the first innings. Hussey, with his trademark steel like determination and solid technique, piled up 115 runs.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals due to the Aussies’ pace artillery of Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc and Siddle breathing fire on the pitch. With Sri Lanka four down for 87 runs, the Test seemed to be yet another example of Australia’s dominance over Sri Lanka.

Also read: 5 fascinating contributions by players in series losses

However, Angelo Mathews tagged with Tillakaratne Dilshan who, surprisingly, had survived the Aussie pace attack. The duo pushed Sri Lanka’s score beyond 200. Siddle returned with the new ball and ran through Sri Lanka’s lower batting order claiming five wickets for 54 runs. He was aggressive, accurate and relentless with his sharp pace.

Sri Lankan batsmen had no answer to the bowling, however, one man stood tall amidst this havoc and scored a brilliant hundred. Dilshan defended the fort for 273 balls scoring 147 runs and gave the Lankans some hope of getting something out of the game.

For a batsman known as ‘only a sub-continent’ player, Dilshan’s heroic efforts at Hobart against a deadly Aussie bowling can never be forgotten.

#2 Ricky Ponting: 104 vs India at Ahmedabad, March 2011

AHMEDABAD, INDIA - MARCH 24:  Ricky Ponting of Australia hits the ball towards the boundary, as MS Dhoni of India looks on during the 2011 ICC World Cup Quarter Final match between Australia and India at Sardar Patel Stadium on March 24, 2011 in Ahmedabad, India.  (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Ricky Ponting conquered spin to score one of his finest ODI hundreds in 2011 World Cup

Arguably ODI cricket’s greatest captain ever, Ricky Ponting arrived in India in 2011 to defend the World Cup which was in Australia’s trophy cabinet since 1999 with all odds stacked against him. As a batsman, he had lost his touch, his famed team was no more invincible and criticism over his captaincy was increasing.

With a mix of brilliant and scratchy cricket, the defending champions reached the quarter-finals to meet India, the favourites for the tournament. With India having plenty of quality spinners and the pitch benefiting the hosts, Australia had a daunting task in their hands.

And their skipper led from the front. From the word go, India attacked the Aussie batsmen with spin and kept the noose tight. Watson departed cheaply while Haddin scored a 50 but was unable to break the shackles. The middle-order too limped but the Aussie captain batted determinedly and neutralised India’s spin threat.

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Ponting scored 33 runs off 33 balls against Yuvraj, 22 runs off 27 balls against Harbhajan and eight runs from nine balls off Ashwin. His strike rate against the spinners was 90.78 in the innings where the spinners had an economy rate of 4.84 per over.

Punter scored a terrific hundred scoring 104 runs off 118 balls but with a little help from other batsmen, Australia managed 260 runs which India chased with ease in the 48th over.

After Ponting’s 104 runs, the next highest score in the game was 57 from Yuvraj while Punter’s strike rate of 88.13 was the best for any batsmen in the match who faced more than 30 balls.

The Aussie captain lost the game and the trophy but left India with his reputation of being a resilient batsman intact.

#1 Mahela Jayawardene: 103* vs India at Mumbai, April 2011

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18:  Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 18, 2015 in Sydney, Australia.  (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Elegance at its best: Jayawardene during his century in 2011 World Cup finals

The final of World Cup 2011 is stamped with Dhoni’s masterclass innings with that winning six over long-on being its cover poster. The game is also remembered for Gautam Gambhir’s solid knock of 97.

But on that night when Dhoni won the hearts of millions of cricket fans and India won the World Cup, a Sri Lankan player left the ground dejected and may be thinking what more could he have done to win that game for his team. Because that night he became the only batsman to score a hundred in the final of a World Cup and yet end up on the losing side.

Mahela Jayawardene walked to the crease with his team at 60 for two after 16.2 overs. The opening batsmen had wasted valuable time batting nervously and the Indian bowlers were on top.

The former Sri Lankan captain spent a while in the middle getting his eye in and soon pressed the foot on the accelerator. He drove Harbhajan against the turn to point region and then pulled Yuvraj when he erred slightly in his length.

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However, more than the boundaries, Jayawardene utilised the singles and doubles to milk the bowlers in the middle overs. It was a smart and sensational batting effort. Very quietly the right-hand batsman took the game away from India and earned the momentum for his team.

It was an innings to remember as Mahela indulged in his trademark elegant strokeplay with almost impossible to believe calmness in an atmosphere that was completely chaotic.

The final punch came in the death overs when he went berserk and launched an all-out attack. In his final 10 balls, he scored 22 runs and provided the much-needed flourish to the Sri Lankan innings. They scored 64 in the last five overs to finish at 274 for six after 50 overs.

Jayawardene scored 103 runs from 88 balls at a staggering strike rate of 117.04.

However, later that night MSD produced a scintillating innings that completely overshadowed Jayawardene’s efforts.

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Edited by Staff Editor