Top 6 Knocks by Indian Batsmen in Successful Chases

4. Sachin Tendulkar 134 vs Australia, Sharjah Cup Final, 1998

Sachin Tendulkar scored a

match winning

134 on his 25th birthday

India had managed to enter the finals on the basis of superior Net Run-Rate (NRR) with just 1 victory out of 4 league matches. India had lost both their matches to other finalists Australia, who were in prime form, winning all 4 games on their way to the final. Being invited to bat first, Australia put 272 runs on the board, which was considered to be a huge score in those days.

Sachin Tendulkar opened the innings along with Sourav Ganguly. Though Ganguly departed soon, Sachin plundered the Australian bowling attack. The Indian talisman had recorded a three-figure score against the Aussies in the previous game as well and seemed to have carried on from where he left.

In an innings which became famous by the name 'Desert-Storm', The Master smashed 12 fours and 3 sixes in his knock of 134. He added 89 runs for the second wicket and stitched a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 120 runs with captain Mohammad Azharuddin.

It was such an impact knock that even Australian skipper Steve Waugh stressed that they lost to one person. Tendulkar was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match and the Man of the Tournament for his sensational performances with the willow. It was also Tendulkar's 25th birthday, which made the occasion even special.