Watch: 22-year-old Vinod Kambli takes on Shane Warne from the rough, smashes 22 in five balls to ace semi-final chase
Watch: In the semi-final of the 1994 Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah, Vinod Kambli took 22 in an over of Shane Warne.
India’s 71-run win against the UAE was enough for them to secure a semi-final berth in the tournament despite the six-wicket defeat against Pakistan. They had a setback when coach/manager Ajit Wadekar had a heart attack mid-tournament, but Sunil Gavaskar, part of the commentary panel, stepped in.
Australia, meanwhile, brushed aside Sri Lanka – they were still a couple of years away from being world champions – and New Zealand comfortably. They now met India in the semi-final.
There, Australia rode on Steve Waugh’s 52 and Matthew Hayden’s 48 posted 244-9 as Javagal Srinath took 3-32 and Anil Kumble 3-50. These were different times, when Hayden batted at No.6, a slot above wicketkeeper Justin Langer.
India lost Sachin Tendulkar – their newfound opener from the New Zealand tour earlier that year – early, but Ajay Jadeja (87) and Navjot Sidhu (80) kept India in the hunt. India were left to chase 31 in six overs with seven wickets in hand. At the crease were Mohammad Azharuddin, on a 34-ball 31, and Kambli, on four from eight balls.
On came Warne, less than a year after bowling the Ball of the Century. He had been outstanding until that point, having dismissed both Jadeja and Sidhu in his 8-0-18-2. Now, for the first time, he bowled at a left-hander.
Warne tossed the first ball up. Kambli, batting in a cap, stepped out and hit him for a straight six.
The next ball probably slipped out of Warne’s hand. As Langer gathered the high full toss, the umpire signalled a no-ball. It would have been called a wide anyway.
Warne tossed up again, pitching it up more than the first ball. Kambli cover-drove for four.
Warne held the length back again. Kambli stepped out again. Six.
Kambli played the next ball to cover, bringing a moment of respite to Warne, who had conceded 17 in three balls before that.
Warne bowled a short-pitched ball next. This, Kambli cut for four. The next ball, on leg and middle, disappeared through mid-wicket.
Unable to contain Kambli, Warne finally switched to round the wicket. Kambli dead-batted the last ball.
