On This Day In 1998: The legendary Sachin Tendulkar produced one of his finest knocks in ODI cricket over 27 years ago. Representing the Men in Blue, a young Master Blaster smashed a masterful century against Australia in the sixth group fixture of the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup. The Indian icon showcased his batting technique on the familiar grounds of Sharjah on this day. He scored 143 runs in 131 deliveries while also taking a wicket during India’s bowling display. While Tendulkar’s standout performance failed to secure a victory for the Mohammad Azharuddin-led side, it did win him the Player of the Match award. The match’s significance was amplified by the ODI event’s triangular series format. India needed to maintain their net run rate against Australia for a spot in the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup final. ?️ Desert storm in Sharjah! On this day in 1998, the world witnessed one of Sachin Tendulkar’s greatest innings as he smashed an incredible 143 against Australia ? pic.twitter.com/m1h5C6xOFe — ICC (@ICC) April 22, 2022 The Steve Waugh-led side won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium. Mark Waugh added 81 runs and Michael Bevan smashed an unbeaten century. While India found wickets at regular intervals, they failed to stem the flow of runs in Dubai. The Aussies eventually finished their innings at 284/7 which, given the conditions, was a challenging total for the Men in Blue. Sachin Tendulkar’s aggressive batting approach during the chase characterised his 143-run innings. The young batter fended off a fierce bowling attack comprising players like Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasprowicz. Tendulkar opened the chase alongside Sourav Ganguly. The legendary batter demonstrated his impeccable timing and shot selection while maximising India’s run rate. Tendulkar’s calculated approach saw him hit nine boundaries and five sixes. A significant dust storm interrupted play at Sharjah during Sachin Tendulkar’s masterclass. When the storm settled, India’s target was revised to 276 from 46 overs. This interruption added a major layer of complexity to an already-challenging game for the Men in Blue. The new target now required Tendulkar to produce runs at an even higher pace, placing more pressure on his shoulders. Finally, India ran out of deliveries after putting up 250 runs on the board to lose the game by 26 runs. While India failed to seal a victory, they achieved the necessary net run rate for the final qualification. Sachin Tendulkar’s innings propelled the Mohammad Azharuddin-led side to the tournament’s ultimate clash. It was the perfect example of Tendulkar’s ability to deliver important runs under pressure. India eventually went on to beat Australia in the final by six wickets to win the ODI event.