da bet esporte： Asked to open the innings in the absence of batting maestro SachinTendulkar, 22-year-old Virender Shewag could not have chosen a betteroccasion to live up to his reputation as a hard-hitting batsman
02-Aug-2001Asked to open the innings in the absence of batting maestro SachinTendulkar, 22-year-old Virender Shewag could not have chosen a betteroccasion to live up to his reputation as a hard-hitting batsman.And when he delivered to his potential, the Delhi batsman did it instyle, plundering boundaries at will and hammering the sixth fastestone-day century ever in one-day internationals.After 14 matches and a dozen innings until today, there was just one50 to his name and his highest score in the current series was 33. AndIndia had conceded 264 to the New Zealanders in a tournament in whichthey struggled to chase any score beyond 200.But under such tremendous pressure, Shewag chose to excel.”I just played my natural game. I played my shots…it was certainlymy best innings where I played positively,” the shy all rounder, whowas declared the man-of-the-match, said.Shewag took the Kiwi attack by the scruff from the very beginning. His50 came off 29 deliveries but fell short of the two fastest Indianhalf centuries, those of Ajit Agarkar and Kapil Dev.The high point of his 69-ball century was four consecutive boundariesand a six in the 11th over by Darryl Tuffey. Shewag hit 19 boundariesand a six in all.Undoubtedly, it was his knock which shaped India’s seven-wicketvictory against New Zealand and ensured it a place in the finalagainst Sri Lanka.Shewag’s employees, Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, were promptin announcing a cash incentive of Rs one lakh for his efforts.The Indian skipper admitted it was one of the best one-day knocksknocks he had seen.”It was unbelievable,” gushed Ganguly. “He played a superb knock…Itwas a big target to chase but he made it look so easy. Also the laterbatsmen backed up well. I did not want to get out and leave the job tothe younger lot but they did well to see us through. Rahul (Dravid)played a beauty as well. Badani too looked in good nick,” Gangulysaid.”It was good to see the batsmen back in form before the final,” headded.The 29-year-old Indian captain said playing two important back to backmatches had not been easy. “We were stiff in the morning…it’s goodwe came out and played well.”The victory saw India in to the final, a day-night encounter to beplayed on August 5.New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said “India took away the gamefrom us in the first 15 overs,” thanks to a “clean, match-winningperformance from Virender Shewag”.