5 instances when Sachin Tendulkar scored imperious 90s

Sachin Tendulkar needs no introduction to the sporting world. He is a global icon revered by millions across the globe. "Little Master" was arguably the biggest match-winner India produced. He shouldered the burden of Indian batting for a period of 24 years and played an active part in team strategies. His batting was based on three principles: balance, timing, and precision.

Tendulkar proudly owns all the top records in cricket as a batsman and some of them will stand the test of time. He has scored 34000 runs in International cricket with 100 centuries and 164 half centuries from a whopping 664 matches across formats.

However, the great man also owns a record for scoring the highest number of 90s. Sachin has 27 scores of 90+ with 17 of them coming in ODI's and the remaining coming in test cricket.

Some of his 90s were attractive to watch, filled with sizzling drives and punches and were as good as his hundreds. Let's look into 5 such innings where he dominated the opposition bowlers

#5 90 versus Australia in Mumbai, 1996 - Wills World Cup

Sachin played

a captivating innings

of 90, albeit in a losing cause

India were facing off against Australia in the historic Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. Australia won the toss and chose to bat. They were bolstered by a 103-run opening stand between captain Mark Taylor and Mark Waugh. Waugh scored a well compiled 126 and held the innings together. Wickets at regular intervals did not allow Australia to build momentum towards the end and all they could manage was a competitive 258.

India had a terrible start, losing opener Ajay Jadeja and Vinod Kambli in quick succession. McGrath had bowled 3 impeccable maiden overs and India had scored 7 in 6 overs for the loss of 2 wickets. Exactly at this point, Tendulkar began to cut loose and scored 3 boundaries of McGrath's next over by playing some glorious pull shots.

He scored another 14 runs in McGrath's fifth over, which included his signature drives and a pick-up shot over long on which went for a maximum.

Warne's introduction had little effect on the rampaging Tendulkar as he smashed him for a boundary of the first ball he bowled. In the same over, he completed his 50 off a mere 41 deliveries. He was scoring boundaries at will and keeping the run rate under check. He had a 63-run partnership with Azharuddin and another 72 run stand with Manjrekar. When all was looking too rosy, he got stumped by Ian Healy off a wide by Mark Waugh's harmless off-spin.

It was a masterclass from the great man, scoring 90 from 84 balls and his departure from the 22-yards sealed the fate of the game. India lost the match by 16 runs and continued its tradition of over-dependence on Tendulkar.

#4 92 versus England in Nottingham, 2002 - 2nd Test

Sachin Tendulkar scored an attractive 92 to save the day for India

India had lost the first Test at Lord's. When India won the toss, they had no hesitation in batting first. They scored a decent 357 in their first innings, supported by Virender Sehwag's 106, his first century in Test cricket as an opener. England gave a strong reply, scoring 617 in their first innings and Michael Vaughan scored a spectacular stroke-filled 197. India now had their backs to the wall, facing a deficit of 260 runs with four sessions to survive.

To make matters worse, India had a terrible start, losing both their openers at the score of 11. When the two of India's most prolific batsmen joined forces, they knew the task ahead of them. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar started to rebuild the innings in a contrasting manner.

Dravid was holding the fort at one end and Tendulkar was smashing the bowlers at the other. It was a masterclass by Tendulkar against the moving ball, when he played some fierce square cuts, signature straight drives and his customary back-foot punches. The pair saw the day through for India with Sachin unbeaten on 59 and Dravid batting on 44.

Day 5 saw Tendulkar continue from where he left on Day 4, before being bowled through the gate by the one that sharply turned from a usually innocuous Michael Vaughan. Sachin had scored a valiant 92 with 17 boundaries. However, Rahul Dravid's classy 115 followed by Sourav Ganguly's 99 and some rearguard action by debutant Parthiv Patel helped India to save the match.

#3 91 versus England in Nottingham, 2007 - 2nd Test

Sachin scored a glorious 91 to put India in a match-winning position

India got lucky at Lord's as rain gods helped them save the Test match. In the second Test, on a gloomy morning, Rahul Dravid won the toss and decided to bowl. Zaheer Khan, fresh from his county stint wreaked havoc and bowled out England for a below-par 198. Zaheer picked 4 wickets and was well supported by Anil Kumble who picked up a 3-fer.

India got off to a positive start with openers Wasim Jaffer and Dinesh Karthik scoring half-centuries and adding 147 for the first wicket. When India lost both the openers in quick succession, Dravid and Sachin forged a 97-run stand before Dravid departed for 37.

Sachin played an anchor's knock by rotating the strike and playing his trademark shots. It was commendable the way he handled the steep bounce generated by Chris Tremlett and seeing off the accurate James Anderson. Sachin stitched another partnership with Ganguly and the duo added 96 runs.

When it looked like Tendulkar's century would be a mere formality, he was dismissed leg-before against the run of play for not offering a shot to Paul Collingwood. He scored a patient 91 with 12 boundaries. Replays suggested that Simon Taufel had erred in his decision making and in today's day and age Tendulkar would have had the privilege of using DRS to reverse the decision.

However, India scored a mammoth 481 and all England could do was give India a target of 73 which was comfortably chased.

#2 91 versus Australia in Brisbane, 2008 - 2nd CB Series Final

Sachin's 91 set up India's victory in Commonwealth Bank Series 2nd Final

India had won the first final against Australia in Sydney with Sachin scoring an unbeaten 117. When India elected to bat first on a hot afternoon in Brisbane, it was important to get off to a good start. Robin Uthappa and Tendulkar started cautiously against the Australian quickies and slowly built some momentum scoring 94 in 20 overs before Robin was dismissed.

Sachin played percentage cricket by constantly rotating the strike and scoring the occasional boundary. He built important partnerships with Gambhir, Yuvraj, and Dhoni. Sachin played second fiddle to an aggressive Yuvraj Singh who, with his belligerent six-hitting, set up the innings for a grand finish before getting dismissed.

Australians tried their best to disrupt the great man's concentration. Michael Clarke even jumped upon Sachin in his follow through to avoid a quick a single at the non-striker's end. However, when a Sachin century looked inevitable he got out by stepping to Clarke and popping up a catch at short mid-on. Sachin had done his part in setting up the innings and a few lusty blows from Dhoni, in the end, helped India reach a respectable 258.

Australia could not cross the hurdle in spite of James Hope's valiant efforts. India won the CB series by beating Australia in two successive finals in their own backyard and Sachin was awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant batting.

#1 98 versus Pakistan in Centurion, 2003 - ICC World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar plays the upper cut over point for a six: The best moment of the World Cup

India had built up the momentum and the stage was set for the most important match of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. It was the mother of all clashes with a rampaging India taking on a confident Pakistan. Both the teams had superstars in their respective line-ups and the intensity was almost palpable even before a single ball was bowled.

Pakistan won an important toss and elected to bat on a sunny morning. Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar got off to a decent start, adding 58 in 11 overs. Zaheer Khan dismissed Taufeeq and Abdul Razzaq followed soon. Saeed Anwar found his midas touch against India and was playing an impactful innings. He reached his century in the 40th over and eventually got bowled to Ashish Nehra after a well made 103. A few lusty blows from Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Wasim Akram helped Pakistan reach a seemingly match-winning score of 273.

India had a stiff challenge and considering the Pakistani attack, the score looked beyond reach.

During the lunch break, all Sachin had were sandwiches. Virender Sehwag has gone on the record to say, he did not want to face Wasim Akram first up, requested Sachin to take strike. When Sachin stroked the third ball of the innings to a sumptuous boundary off the backfoot, everyone knew there was something special coming up.

We did not have to wait for long as Shoaib Akhtar started to steam in and the first delivery he bowled to Sachin disappeared over point for a six. It was not a shot but a statement from the great man. The next ball was nonchalantly flicked to mid-wicket and the last ball was a mere push that raced away to the long-on boundary. India, in no time, raced to 27 from 2 overs.

Sehwag joined the party and India raced to 50 in less than 5 overs. Even though Sehwag and Ganguly got out in quick succession, this did not deter Sachin and he kept going after the bowlers and completed his 50 in 37 balls. Some his back foot drives were pristine to watch and I'm sure no sports photographer would've complained that day.

Kaif and Sachin had a good partnership and Pakistan just did not have an answer to the Little Master's blitzkrieg. A cramp stalled the momentum a bit, but still, Tendulkar completed 12000 ODI runs in his 309th ODI for India. When the situation got worse, Sehwag came in as a by-runner and Sachin was almost immediately dismissed to a sharp bouncer by Shoaib Akhtar. Sachin had scored a memorable 98 of 75 balls, and by his own admission, played one of the best innings in his career.

At 177 for 4, India were far from safety. Rahul Dravid stitched an important partnership with Yuvraj Singh who scored a brilliant 50 playing some imperious cover drives against quality pace. India won the match by 6 wickets and 26 balls to spare when Dravid hit the winning shot towards square leg.

Tendulkar's 98 is a fan's favorite and one of the best knocks played by an Indian in the World Cup. Generations may pass, but it would be hard to forget the shot that Sachin played of Akhtar over point. It was delicious!