Watch: Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja let each other complete their respective milestones at the 1998 Coca-Cola Cup final at the Eden Gardens.
The 1990s was when triangular ODI tournaments peaked. In 1998, India invited Kenya and Bangladesh – finalists of the 1997 ICC Trophy (World Cup qualifiers) – to play in the scorching heat of May. Thankfully, all matches were day-and-night.
In the last league match, at Gwalior, Ravindu Shah (70), Maurice Odumbe (83 not out), and Hitesh Modi (51) took Kenya to 265-5 before Steve Tikolo (3-29) and Odumbe (3-14) bowled out India for 196.
The Kenyans, already immensely popular in India after their win against the West Indies at the World Cup at Pune two years ago, grew in stature in the eyes of the local fans.
In the final in Calcutta, however, Venkatesh Prasad (4-23) and Ajit Agarkar (3-31) left Kenya reeling at 23-4. Anil Kumble (2-34) chipped in as well, and only Modi (71) held the fort as they were bowled out for 196.
Sachin Tendulkar and local hero Sourav Ganguly got off to a quick start, adding 77 in 80 balls before Joseph Angara (1-37) bowled Ganguly (36). Tendulkar continued with Ajay Jadeja, and victory seemed imminent.
By the time India crossed 150, the only matter of interest was whether Tendulkar would get to his 16th ODI hundred. Jadeja, a master of rotating the strike, duly took a back seat as the spectators cheered every run.
Tendulkar was 96 when India needed 14 to win, in 97 balls. By then, Kenya had resorted to the military-medium pace of Shah. Tendulkar blasted the last ball of the over to the cover fence – his 13th boundary – reach the milestone, off 103 balls.
As the cheer subsided, the focus shifted to Jadeja, whose 59-ball 41 did not include a single boundary. Now, with nine to get out of 10, he pulled and cut Thomas Odoyo to pick up two fours, but there had been an extra in between.
To get to his fifty, Jadeja needed to take a run off the last ball of the over. He got there with a leg-glance. The final score read Tendulkar 100, Jadeja 50.
