On September 9, 1994, Team India beat Australia by 31 runs in the third match of the Singer World Series, played among four teams. Besides India and Australia, hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan were two other
participants. At Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium, India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat first. Sachin Tendulkar came out to open with Manoj Prabhakar and gave a fine start to the team. Both openers stitched an 87-run stand together for the opening wicket. Prabhakar departed after scoring 20 runs off 41 deliveries but Tendulkar stood in the middle and stitched crucial partnerships with Navjot Singh Sidhu and skipper Azharuddin. With Sidhu, he built a 42-run partnership while with Azharuddin, he erected a 44-run stand.
Sachin Tendulkar completed his maiden ODI ton and helped India cross the 200-run mark. The right-handed batter concluded his knock after hammering 110 runs off 130 balls. His superb knock was studded with 10 boundaries (eight fours and two maximums). Craig McDermott cleaned him up and ended his innings.
Sachin Tendulkar’s batting display emboldened India’s confidence in the second innings
India delivered a target of 247 to the Aussie side and defending the score, the Men in Blue saw the fine valiant efforts from their bowlers. Azharuddin’s boys bundled out Australia for a total 215 in 47.4 overs. Manoj Prabhakar emerged as the highest wicket-taker for India with 3/34 figures in his eight overs.
In his eight-over spell, he hunted the scalps of the Aussie captain and opener Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, and McDermott. Rajesh Chauhan also picked up David Boon and Mark Waugh in his 10 overs. Kapil Dev, Venkatapathy Raju, and Anil Kumble also got one wicket apiece. In India’s 31-run victory, Tendulkar got the Player of the Match (POTM) for his stunning batting display.
