5 instances when Sachin Tendulkar scored imperious 90s

#1 98 versus Pakistan in Centurion, 2003 - ICC World Cup

Sachin Tendulkar plays the upper cut over point for a six: The best moment of the World Cup

India had built up the momentum and the stage was set for the most important match of the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. It was the mother of all clashes with a rampaging India taking on a confident Pakistan. Both the teams had superstars in their respective line-ups and the intensity was almost palpable even before a single ball was bowled.

Pakistan won an important toss and elected to bat on a sunny morning. Saeed Anwar and Taufeeq Umar got off to a decent start, adding 58 in 11 overs. Zaheer Khan dismissed Taufeeq and Abdul Razzaq followed soon. Saeed Anwar found his midas touch against India and was playing an impactful innings. He reached his century in the 40th over and eventually got bowled to Ashish Nehra after a well made 103. A few lusty blows from Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Wasim Akram helped Pakistan reach a seemingly match-winning score of 273.

India had a stiff challenge and considering the Pakistani attack, the score looked beyond reach.

During the lunch break, all Sachin had were sandwiches. Virender Sehwag has gone on the record to say, he did not want to face Wasim Akram first up, requested Sachin to take strike. When Sachin stroked the third ball of the innings to a sumptuous boundary off the backfoot, everyone knew there was something special coming up.

We did not have to wait for long as Shoaib Akhtar started to steam in and the first delivery he bowled to Sachin disappeared over point for a six. It was not a shot but a statement from the great man. The next ball was nonchalantly flicked to mid-wicket and the last ball was a mere push that raced away to the long-on boundary. India, in no time, raced to 27 from 2 overs.

Sehwag joined the party and India raced to 50 in less than 5 overs. Even though Sehwag and Ganguly got out in quick succession, this did not deter Sachin and he kept going after the bowlers and completed his 50 in 37 balls. Some his back foot drives were pristine to watch and I'm sure no sports photographer would've complained that day.

Kaif and Sachin had a good partnership and Pakistan just did not have an answer to the Little Master's blitzkrieg. A cramp stalled the momentum a bit, but still, Tendulkar completed 12000 ODI runs in his 309th ODI for India. When the situation got worse, Sehwag came in as a by-runner and Sachin was almost immediately dismissed to a sharp bouncer by Shoaib Akhtar. Sachin had scored a memorable 98 of 75 balls, and by his own admission, played one of the best innings in his career.

At 177 for 4, India were far from safety. Rahul Dravid stitched an important partnership with Yuvraj Singh who scored a brilliant 50 playing some imperious cover drives against quality pace. India won the match by 6 wickets and 26 balls to spare when Dravid hit the winning shot towards square leg.

Tendulkar's 98 is a fan's favorite and one of the best knocks played by an Indian in the World Cup. Generations may pass, but it would be hard to forget the shot that Sachin played of Akhtar over point. It was delicious!