World Cup 2003: 12 years to Tendulkar's 98 runs against arch-rival Pakistan

Historic 98 blasted off just 75 balls against Pakistan's strong bowling line-up in World Cup 2003

BENGALURU: March 1, 2015, marks the 12th anniversary of  'Little Master' Sachin Tendulkar's historic 98 runs that he had blasted off just 75 balls against a strong bowling line-up of Pakistan's cricket team in World Cup 2003, held in South Africa, OneIndia reported on Sunday. 

Tendulkar's record-breaking performance was one of reasons for Indian team's success against its arch-rival during the tournament.

Players like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus and Shoaib Akhtar had failed to stop India's top player from playing one of the best knocks of the cricket World Cup.

Pakistan vs India match scorecard. PHOTO COURTESY: THATSCRICKET.COM

'Little Master' who opened the Indian innings with Virender Sehwag, had hit 12 boundaries and one six off Akhtar and made the chase of 274 runs look a simple procedure. India won the match by six wickets.

The innings, although was curtailed by a lethal delivery from Akhtar, gave India their fourth consecutive victory over Pakistan in the World Cup.

Tendulkar also won his second man of the match award against Pakistan in the World Cup, thanks to that innings.

Sachin Tendulkar. PHOTO COURTESY: SPORTSADDAINDIA

Later, he won his third man of the match award against Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup as well.

Just recently, India’s bowlers also backed-up a landmark century by Virat Kohli as the defending champions continued their World Cup domination of Pakistan with a 76-run win in the World Cup 2015 at the Adelaide Oval on February 15, 2015.

Read: World Cup history repeats itself in Adelaide Oval as Pakistan loses to India

Kohli hit 107, the first century by an Indian in World Cup matches against their arch-rivals, to lift his team to an imposing 300 for seven after they elected to bat on an even-paced pitch in their World Cup opener.

Mohammad Shami picked up four wickets and Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma two each as Pakistan were shot out for 224 with three overs to spare as they suffered their sixth consecutive World Cup defeat by India dating back to 1992.

Skipper Misbahul Haq played a lone hand with a valiant 76 off 84 balls that ensured Pakistan did not surpass their heaviest World Cup defeat, a 112-run reverse against England in Cape Town in 2003.

Misbahul Haq (R) plays a shot as Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (L) looks on during their 2015 Cricket World Cup match in Adelaide on February 15, 2015. PHOTO: AFP