Team India's best moments during Diwali Week

#3 India vs South Africa, Hero Cup semi-final, Kolkata 1993

Sachin - The bowling hero

India batted first and were all out for 195. Captain Azharuddin scored 90 and Pravin Amre scored 48. By the end of the Indian innings, it became quite clear that India needed a miracle to with the match.

That miracle for India came in the form of run-outs when three South African batsmen ran themselves out. In the end, it came down to 13 runs of the last 2 overs. South Africa scored 7 runs in the 49th over but lost the wicket of David Richardson through a run-out.

South Africa needed 6 runs in the last over with 2 wickets in hand. There was a conference in the middle. Azhar did not know who to throw the ball to. Kapil Dev was a little bit reluctant to bowl the last over. But Sachin grabbed the ball from Azhar to bowl the last over.

The burly South African all-rounder Brian McMillan was on strike. McMillan scored a run of Sachin’s first ball but an attempt for a second run cost the wicket of Fannie de Villiers. Allan Donald came to the crease as the last wicket.

All that South Africa wanted was a single and McMillan back on strike. But Sachin’s second, third and fourth balls to Allan Donald were all dots. Donald could not put bat on the ball. Donald took a single off the fifth ball which left McMillan to score 4 off the last ball.

He swung his bat around but could manage just one run off the last ball. India won by 3 runs. Sachin was India’s unexpected here with the ball. India went on to win the Hero Cup 1993 beating West Indies in the final. The 1993 Diwali will forever be remembered for Sachin’s last over heroics against South Africa.