On this day in 2002 Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag scored centuries against England in Champions trophy. England won the toss and elected to bat first, England lost opener Marcus Trescothick and skipper Nasser Hussain when score was 7. These both were dismissed by Ashish Nehra.
Nick Knight batted but cautiously and Ronnie Irani started playing shots these both added 73 runs for third wicket. Anil Kumble got Ronnie Irani out for 37. Owais Shah joined Nick Knight to rescue the team. These both rotated strike by taking quick singles and hitting odd boundary.
However Nick Knight was out after scoring 50 of 70 balls with 3 fours. Owais Shah too didn’t last long he was out for 34 of 47 balls. England were 153 for 5 at 33.1 overs, Ian Blackwell joined experienced Alec Stewart. These both made sure there’s no dip in scoring rate, Stewart played second fiddle role while Blackwell played agressively.
These both added 104 runs for 6th wicket in 15 overs. Alec Stewart was out for 35 of 44 balls in 48.1 over. Ian Blackwell played magnificently for his 82 of 68 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. England scored 269 for 7 in 50 overs. An excellent come back by England team after they lost their 2 main batsman when score was just 7.
In reply it was completely a counter attack by Virender Sehwag while Sourav Ganguly played supporting role for him. But anything pitched on or out of off stump Dada played his trade mark shots towards off side and covers. Sehwag was going beserk against England bowlers smashing them all over the park.
Sehwag scored hundred in 77 balls with 17 fours and six. Viru and Ganguly has laid solid foundation adding 192 runs for first wicket breaking previous best of 188 by Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri at Cuttack in 1984/85. Sehwag was caught and bowled by Blackwell for 126 of 104 balls with 21 fours and six. Laxman was run out for 4 then Sachin Tendulkar joined Sourav Ganguly.
He just supported Sourav who was nearing his hundred. Dada dealt with boundaries and sixes post dismissal of Sehwag and Laxman. He completed his century of 103 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. Dada finished off the match with six of Dominic Cork. India chased down the total in 39.2 overs. Sehwag was adjudged player of the match for his onslaught.
