When ‘god’ Sachin wrought a batting miracle

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE

It is said that the days of miracles are not yet over, even in cricket. And Christ wrought a miracle when he turned water into wine to quench the thirst of the multitude that had flocked to a wedding ceremony in Cana.

Here in Gwalior, Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar turned batting ‘god’ and quenched the thirst of the thousands who had jam packed the venue to watch the miracle live, while millions watched the action on TV and millions listened to radio commentators describing the batting miracle being wrought by that batting ‘god’ Tendulkar.

Religion

It has been said and accepted that in India cricket is religion and Tendulkar god. And that belief came true when the batting god delivered in making the first double hundred in the history of one-day international cricket. Many batsmen have attempted this miracle. But none have succeeded.

The batsman who got closest to it was Pakistani dashing left hander Saeed Anwar and Zimbabwean Charles Coventry who made 194 each.

Second best

Sri Lanka’s own master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya came very near to putting Anwar to second best. But when on 189 and well set to go past Anwar and achieve that elusive double hundred, he had a sudden rush of blood, rushed out to hit Sourav Ganguly for six and was stumped.

Here in Gwalior, where the second one day international between India and South Africa was played, never did anyone expect a batting miracle to be wrought. The spectators were settling down to watch an interesting game of ‘cowboy’ cricket.

Tendulkar, in the first game was run out early. The followers were hoping that Tendulkar would come good in this game, as the majority of them had come to watch the little master in action.

But as the game began to progress, Tendulkar began to unwind and began playing his signature shots – the cut, the cover drive, the drives on the V, the pulls, the hooks, the exquisite cuts and glances as runs began to cascade from his bat.

At 36 years of age, he does not seem to have slowed. He was bouncy like he did when he first took strike in a big game. Like all great batsmen do, he first got his eye in, got a feel of how the wicket was playing, its bounce and movement and then began the batting show of shows. The show that will stay etched in the memory of those fortunate to watch it live and on Neo Sport and listen on radio.

Tendulkar was not scoring these precious and memorable runs against a third rate attack. But against one of the best attacking bowling sides in the game today that comprised Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, Van Der, Langeveldt, Duminy and Kallis. And the Proteas were also one, if not the best fielding sides in world cricket.

From the time he was knee high to a bat, those who watched him progress predicted a great future for him. He was a natural and a genius. Strokes come naturally to him and he is no slogger, but a batting maestro in the manner born.

Greatest batsman

The greatest batsman that the game of cricket had seen, Sir Donald Bradman was a great admirer of Tendulkar and paid the little master the greatest compliment when he compared himself to Tendulkar, because their batting styles were similar. When he reached 50, they gave him a slow hand clap. When he reached his 100 the applause became a bit more louder.

When he totted up 150 it became a bit more louder and when he reached the record breaking and history making miracle of 200 unbeaten, they all stood up to him and they all put their hands together and gave him a thunder clap that lasted till he was lost inside the pavilion.

The first South African to congratulate him was wicket keeper Mark Boucher and then the rest followed paying homage to a cricketer that planet earth was fortunate to see and will ever see.

I was fortunate to watch the batting miracle being wrought on Neo Sport and enjoyed every minute of this once in a lifetime batting display that only god knows would be played again.

Tendulkar is simply a marvel. Come to think of it he is the scorer of most runs and centuries in Test cricket, the most number of runs and centuries in one-day internationals and now the record holder of being the first batsman to notch a double hundred in the history of one-day internationals.

Good wine

He is 36 and like good wine seems to be mellowing with age. In this big innings he did not show any tiredness or cramps.

He ran the singles and the twos like a teenager and hit the three sixes and 25 fours in a 146 ball innings with wonderful timing and ease.

We wish Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar many more years of runs full of cricket and may many more records dot his glistening career until he decides to call it a day. He’s an EXAMPLE.

For the record India made a massive 401 for 3 and bowled out South Africa for 248.