Sachin Tendulkar looked like taking the game away, playing imperious strokes to assert his supremacy in this newest form of the game.
MOTERA: A day after getting jeered by a group of supporters, Sachin Tendulkar began his campaign to win back the hearts of the Indian public on a successful note, as he toyed with the Tamil Nadu bowlers, smashing 68 off 32 balls to top score for Mumbai in their opening game of the All India Inter state Twenty20 Tournament at the Motera here on Monday. It was a pity that Mumbai could feed off this superb effort, which included 10 fours and two sixes, from Tendulkar and went down by 15 runs as the Ranji champs ended up with 157 for eight.
After Tamil Nadu put up an imposing 172 for five in 20 overs, Tendulkar looked like taking the game away, playing imperious strokes to assert his supremacy in this newest form of the game. The upper cut over third man, the paddle sweeps, the booming drives, they were all there, as the maestro galloped to his half century off just 23 balls.
All this while batting in the opening position, his favourite slot in the batting order. This is the highest score so far in the championship. Sachin’s eventual dismissal, bowled as he was while trying to flick P Amarnath while leaving his stumps open, must have given a huge sigh of relief to Hemang Badani, who had dropped Tendulkar on 27 at extra cover.
Earlier, TN rode on the efforts of S Anirudh (49), V Devendran (30), Dinesh Karthik (26) and S Vidyut (28 not out) to put up a total that was always going to put pressure on Mumbai. Sachin bowled two overs, which went for 16 runs.
Amidst talk of retirement, criticism for poor form, and unwanted controversy, Sachin has made a small statement. And as usual, it has been with his bat. Earlier, India pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar failed to make it count and were hit all over the park. Both of them failed to find the right line and lenght and were treated like club bowlers by the Tamil Nadu batsmen.
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