On This Day: Saeed Anwar registers record score in ODIs, gives India heartbreak in Independence Cup

Cricket underwent plenty of changes from the period of the 80s and the 90s. Power hitting started gaining credence in that period. Sir Vivian Richards of the West Indies set the tone when he pushed the barriers of impossible in the 80s. In that period, he hit 181 and 189 in ODIs which symbolised the power of the West Indies team at that time. Richards’ score of 189 against Sri Lanka in the 1987 World Cup became one of the highest individual score in the history of ODIs.

As the 90s came, the blueprint of hitting that Richards had established became consistent. Teams were consistently posting high scores and the number of centuries from batsmen also increased. However, in 1997, one Pakistan batsman decided to create history. The fact that it came against arch-rivals India made it even sweeter. The occasion was the Independence Cup tournament, which was played to commemorate 50 years of India’s Independence. 

Saeed Anwar arrives on the big stage

Pakistan had a solid opening combination in the 90s in the form of Saeed Anwar and Aamer Sohail. Anwar was the more stylish of the lot, hitting centuries in overseas contests in Australia and England. By the middle of the 90s, Anwar established himself as the bedrock of Pakistan’s batting with his consistency. Against India, Anwar had hit a couple of fifties but he never converted it into a big score. All that changed in 1997 during the clash in Chennai.

The Pepsi Independence Cup involved India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand as the four teams. New Zealand had already upset the odds when they defeated Pakistan. However, they bounced back with a win over the 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka. India got their campaign started with a win against New Zealand but they lost to Sri Lanka. When Sri Lanka beat New Zealand to enter the final, the India vs Pakistan clash became a virtual shootout.

Pakistan chose to bat against India and they started badly. Abey Kuruvilla got rid of Shahid Afridi cheaply but Ramiz Raja and Anwar staged a solid partnership

Saeed Anwar tears India apart

Anwar was in sublime form as he unveiled his full range of strokes. He used the cut shot brilliantly against the pacers. With the spinners, the sweep and the paddle were employed in good effect as he notched up his fifty. However, when Anwar reached fifty, he got injured and he had to employ a runner. The left-hander stayed calm and he continued to find the boundaries with ease. Saeed Anwar hit his first century against India as Pakistan was on course for a huge score. Ijaz Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq also gave Anwar great support.

With every passing over, the frustration mounted on India. Anwar reached 150 and he raised the tempo. The crescendo came when he blasted three consecutive sixes and a four in one over of Anil Kumble that cost 24 runs. When he flicked Sachin Tendulkar to the deep backward square leg fence, history was created. Anwar became the highest individual scorer in ODIs and he raised his bat as he passed the mark set by Richards.

With three overs to go, Anwar was on course for a historic double ton. But, he top-edged Tendulkar to fine leg and was caught by Sourav Ganguly. His 194 included 22 fours and five sixes and came off 146 balls. Pakistan ended on 327/5 and India had a mountain to climb.

Rahul Dravid hits ton but India fall short

India started off badly when Tendulkar fell cheaply for 4. Sourav Ganguly looked to be aggressive but fell for 33. Rahul Dravid and Vinod Kambli stitched a 134-run stand for the third wicket, with Kambli hitting 65. However, the asking rate mounted and India never could build momentum. Robin Singh kept India in the game with some big hits while Dravid notched up his maiden ODI century.

However, when he and Robin Singh fell in quick succession, the game was up. Aaqib Javed took 5/61 as India lost by 35 runs to crash out of the tournament. It would be a bittersweet win for Pakistan as they lost in the best of three-finals 2-0 to Sri Lanka. 

Anwar would go on to become one of the best openers for Pakistan, managing 8824 runs at an average of 39 with 20 centuries. Against India, he averaged 43 in 50 ODIs against India. After his Chennai century, he would hit three more centuries in Sharjah, Dhaka and in the 2003 World Cup clash against Centurion. 

Anwar would tragically give up cricket after the death of his daughter due to cancer. But, in his 14-year period, Anwar established himself as one of the best in the world and the 194 in Chennai would be the crescendo of it. Incidentally, his record would be be broken 13 years later. The bowler who dismissed Anwar for 194 would go on to register the first double ton in ODIs in 2010. Sachin Tendulkar would finally surpass Anwar during the match in Gwalior against South Africa. But, in 1997, the benchmark shifted from Richards to Anwar with one knock.