From: sp2@cec2.wustl.edu (Sundara Pandian)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.cricket
Subject: A memorable performance of Azaruddin
Date: 11 Apr 1992 19:55:16 -0500
Organization: Washington University, St. Louis Mo.
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

              A memorable performance of Azaruddin
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       Can you imagine India playing an one-day international without
 Kapil Dev, Srikanth, Ravi Shastri,Chetan Sharma, Dilip Vengsarkar,Manoj
 prabhakar, Hirwani in the last decade ? India took that risk once and
 Azar exhibited a very memorable performance in it. I am writing this as
 to refresh the memory of fans of Azar or Indian cricket fans. 
       It was when New Zealand toured India in 198?. It is in this test series
 that Sir Richard Hadlee claimed his 300th wicket. I forgot the name of the
 batsman who was dismissed by Hadlee. Colonel was the captain for India and
 it was a successful tour for India. The test series was tied (New Zealand
 won the test when Hadlee was in their team and they lost one test when
 Hadlee left the team as he was suffering from some injuries ).
      One-day series was a success for India. It is in this one-day series
 that Srikanth emerged as a very successful one-day bowler. He took 
 5 wickets in three one-day games in a series. He is the only Indian bowler
 with this record and he shares this record with another Asian bowler- I
 believe Sir Richard Hadlee. Anyway, India won all the 4 one-day games that
 it played. All top players decided to rest (may be for the world cup that
 follwed this series ) in the 5th one-day game  and Indian cricket fans were
 not so keen on this one-day international.
      I don't remember where this one-day was played . Only top player in
 Indian team was Azar. It is in this one-day game that a spin bowler from
 Madurai made his debut. His name is Venkatramana . Madurai (my home-town) 
 was very enthusiastic as he was the first ever player from Madurai to play
 for India. However, Indian cricket fans were not so keen, as no top player
 was playing,other than Azar.New Zealand was very determined to win this
 one-day game.                      
     I don't know who won the toss,but New Zealand started batting. Indian
 opening spell was disastrous. Indian fielding was even worse. Kiran More
 and Azar were some exceptions in that game. Then Venkatramana was introduced
 and he took some 3 wickets. Indian spin attack was good, however New Zealand
 managed to put on a big total 250+ in 50 overs.
     It is not a great total in an one-day game in a slow pitch ,but we
 should keep in mind that most of the players in the Indian team were
 inexperienced batsmen.
     India lost wickets quickly when it started chasing N.Z.'s score. Indian
 cricket fans started accusing the team's decision in playing without its
 top players. Commentators too (Pataudi and Co.).
     Then Azar came to bat and that was a turning point in that match. He hit
 almost every ball and broke Viv Richard's record to achieve the FASTEST
 CENTURY in one-day internationals. I don't know how many balls he took in
 scoring his century, but I believe that he took about 58-60 balls in scoring
 his century. I don't know whether he still holds that record,but definitely
 he would be among the top 5 batsmen in the 'fastest century' list.(Sunil 
 Gavaskar had a chance to break Azar's record when he scored his only one-day
 century,but he missed it.) Then the match turned to India's side and India
 won the game comfortably with a few overs to spare. Azar,deservedly, won the
 'man of the match' award .   
      Interestingly, after the play, when the press greeted Azar for his
 one-day record, Azar gave an innocent smile. "Fastest century ? I didn't
 know that.." was his reply to them.
                                                               - S.Pandian.
                                                        sp2@cec1.wustl.edu
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