5 times Sachin Tendulkar was denied a century by part-time spinners

#1. By Michael Vaughan (2nd Test, 2002)

After scoring a splendid 92, Sachin was, amazingly, bowled by Vaughan

Michael Vaughan was a beautiful batsman to watch. Occasionally, he turned his arm over to bowl off-spin. The second Test of the 4-match series between India and England, played at Nottingham, was a special game for him.

In England’s first innings, Vaughan scored a majestic 197 to lead his team to a massive 617 and a lead of 260. The visitors were under pressure now.

Sachin was going through a patch of bad form and questions were being raised as to whether he is facing serious terminal problems. A spate of low scores from him in the previous series – in West Indies – was followed by poor returns in the first Test at Lords.

He fell for 34 in the first innings. But when the second opportunity came around, Tendulkar seemed to have regained his spark. He was batting superbly and looked set to end his century drought by getting to three figures.

He was batting on 92 off 112 balls and had formed a 163-run partnership with Rahul Dravid. Then something shocking happened. Vaughan, on back of his heroics with the bat, bowled an off-spinning delivery which Sachin attempted to play for an off-drive. The ball snuck through the gate and bowled him.

Sachin had to walk back dejectedly but his team managed to save the game. Vaughan was so overjoyed with the feat of scalping Tendulkar’s wicket that, after the day’s play, he went to the Indian legend with the ball with which he had got him out and requested his autograph. Tendulkar obliged. According to the little master, Vaughan reminds him of this event every time they meet.