Sourav’s century at Lords was unexpected to the cricket fraternity of this country. While for most it was a pleasant surprise, for others it was rather hard to accept. A lot of cricket pundits wrote off his historical feat as a mere fluke. No matter what world thinks, a true champion is one who performs on the stage when it is most needed!
Sourav did receive appreciations as well. Richie Beno said that he expected such a knock from Sourav and hailed him as one of the rare left handed talents in cricket.
Team India, played two more matches before third test. The first one was against ‘University’ where Sourav scored 52 and the other against Hampshire where he scored scored an unbeaten 100.
The 2nd Test began at Trentbridge. India batted first. Vikram Rathod and Nayan Mongia failed again, and got out at 4 and 9. Sachin and Sourav were at the crease. Together they played in absolute tandem, to build a partnership of 255 runs. This was the beginning of many such phenomenal partnerships which these two greats of Indian cricket went on to score in the next ten years. Sourav hit yet another century and was caught by Nasir off Mullai’s delivery at a personal score of 136. Sachin was finally out on 177. With Sanjay Manjrekar and Rahul Dravid chipping in with useful knocks of 53 and 84, India posted a target of 521 before England. The match finally ended in a draw.
But, Indian cricket saw the rise of two new talents – Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who would become the pillars of Indian batting side for over a decade.
Sourav did receive appreciations as well. Richie Beno said that he expected such a knock from Sourav and hailed him as one of the rare left handed talents in cricket.
Team India, played two more matches before third test. The first one was against ‘University’ where Sourav scored 52 and the other against Hampshire where he scored scored an unbeaten 100.
The 2nd Test began at Trentbridge. India batted first. Vikram Rathod and Nayan Mongia failed again, and got out at 4 and 9. Sachin and Sourav were at the crease. Together they played in absolute tandem, to build a partnership of 255 runs. This was the beginning of many such phenomenal partnerships which these two greats of Indian cricket went on to score in the next ten years. Sourav hit yet another century and was caught by Nasir off Mullai’s delivery at a personal score of 136. Sachin was finally out on 177. With Sanjay Manjrekar and Rahul Dravid chipping in with useful knocks of 53 and 84, India posted a target of 521 before England. The match finally ended in a draw.
But, Indian cricket saw the rise of two new talents – Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid, who would become the pillars of Indian batting side for over a decade.
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