Reliving Sachin Tendulkar's ODI centuries (41 to 45)

Century No. 45 – 175 vs Australia (Hyderabad – October 2009)

The first four matches (of the 7-match ODI series) of Australia’s tour of India were exciting games. The margin of defeat was less and after the first four games, the series was level at 2-2.

With the series poised evenly and Australia racking up a mammoth total of 350 in the fifth, the visitors were firm favourites to take the lead. However, Sachin Tendulkar decided to torment the Aussies (once again). India started well with Sachin and Sehwag going after the Aussie bowlers (66-run opening stand). But wickets at regular intervals reduced India to 162/4 in the 24th over and 189 runs were still required in about 26 overs. Sachin was going very well at one end.

That was the time when Suresh Raina joined hands with Tendulkar and supported him perfectly. The latter was the aggressor as he took the attack to the Aussie bowlers. He kept up with the required rate and he never seemed to be in any sort of pressure throughout the chase. He counter-attacked but never took any undue risks and played conventional cricket shots and put the Australian bowlers under pressure.

Wickets kept falling around him, but he remained unruffled and continued from his end. He eventually brought the equation down to 19 off 18. But he fell while attempting a paddle-scoop. With only 19 to get, the lower order couldn’t cope up with the pressure as they fell short by 3 runs as Tendulkar and the whole of India were left heart-broken.