Sachin Tendulkar had provided evidence of his steely nerve two years earlier at the WACA, picking up the final wicket against West Indies to give India the most improbable of ties. Now, when Brian McMillan's bold hitting threatened to silence a large crowd at the Eden Gardens, it was once again Tendulkar whom Mohammad Azharuddin turned to. For South Africa the match had appeared lost when Anil Kumble and Ajay Jadeja precipitated a slide to 145 for 7, but then McMillan and Dave Richardson added 44 to leave South Africa needing just six from the final over.
Two seasons earlier, at the same venue, on South Africa's return to the international game, Tendulkar had hit a brilliant half-century to thwart an inspired Allan Donald-led defence of a low total. But this afternoon, he had done little with the bat, making just 15.
Azhar's unexpected gambit perplexed many, but it also got the crowd buzzing. Richardson had been run out in the previous over, but South Africa didn't learn any lessons. With Tendulkar bowling seam-up, McMillan attempted two off the opening delivery. Fanie de Villiers was run out going for the second, which brought in Donald to face a baying crowd and an excited Tendulkar.
de Villiers' skill with the ball didn't quite extend to willow-wielding, and with Vijay Yadav providing plenty of advice and encouragement from behind the stumps, Tendulkar reeled off three successive dot-balls. Donald managed to scamper a single off the penultimate delivery, and McMillan was left needing to wallop four for victory. Azhar took his time setting the field, and with the noise building to an ear-splitting crescendo, Tendulkar gambolled in. McMillan had an almighty heave but didn't connect cleanly, and though the batsmen ran a single - McMillan chastising himself furiously - it was the Indians who raised the roof.
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