10 greatest ODI performances of all time

#9 Sachin Tendulkar 98 vs Pakistan, 2003 World Cup

Sachin took on the fearsome trio of Waqar, Wasim and Shoaib head on.

As expected, the build up to the India-Pakistan encounter at Centurion in the 2003 World Cup was enormous. India were unbeaten in the journey and more significantly, had overcome Pakistan in all their previous World Cup meetings. And as the two nations came to a stand-still, the anxiety surrounding the match was palpable.

When Saeed Anwar - a constant thorn in India’s flesh - scored a ton and Pakistan put 273 on the board, the capacity crowd in attendance and the millions watching on TV knew that the circumstances called for an out-of-the-ordinary effort. And when Sachin Tendulkar took strike ahead of Virender Sehwag, they probably guessed that they were in store from something special. They were so right!

Sachin’s three-punch combo of 6, 4, 4 to dent Shoaib Akhtar is now the stuff of folklore. If his six over square third-man brought the crowd to its feet, his flick off middle-stump and the customary straight drive evoked awe. And when he punched Wasim Akram off the back foot for four through the covers and held his pose with a high-elbow, all that Robin Jackman could manage on commentary was a “My goodness me”.

When a cramp-stricken Sachin eventually fell for 98 of 75 balls, the foundation was laid. Notwithstanding the successful run-chase, the game will always be remembered for the twelve boundaries and the now famous six had emanated from the “little master’s” willow.