I like making predictions. Did I say that the India-Australia match would be a humdinger, or what? Make no mistake, this is one huge rivalry emerging in world cricket. Over the last year or so India have taken on Australia on equal terms, and in most cases it was the master himself, Sachin Tendulkar, who dictated terms all the way.
Yesterday's match was no different. Having lost two early wickets, India cleared the stage for Tendulkar to reign supreme. Ganguly was well caught down the legside, and Azhar, who was last seen promoting Grameen Phone, predictably came unstuck. What if he was using CityCell...? We will never know. Losing two wickets with only 8 runs in the kitty was a tough call. But that set the stage for Sachin Tendulkar, a man who knows what a big moment is meant to be. Tendulkar's innings was no surprise for the Aussies, who have been on the receiving end of the little master's savagery over the last few months. Hundreds in India were swiftly followed by back-to-back tons in Sharjah. Shane Warne was the flavour of the day then. Yesterday it was Brad Young in the beginning but Tendulkar was quite secular for the rest of the day. Aussies of every shape, size and disposition were treated with disdain.
When he was finally out for a soul-stirring 141, it was through a needless run-out. But the gods, by then, had decided to be kind to the Australians and that really was the only way the Indian maestro could be made to depart. Dhaka was privileged to have seen such a masterly display of technique, temperament and superlative mastery of bat over ball. Mind over matter, yin and yang, Tendulkar scoring runs: the perfect life. One can't ask for more from a cricket match.
India, at one stage with only ten overs left, still looked like getting well past the 300 mark. On this wicket, with the kind of bowling that Azhar has in his arsenal, even 320 would perhaps not have been safe, particularly against a side whose tail is only as long as a dachshund's. But there are obviously more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in Azhar's philosophy. The Indian late order curled up and died, and Australia could not believe their luck as they found themselves in with more than a fair chance. India made heavy weather of a less than hostile attack with four needless run-outs. But who said cricket wasn't a game of ifs and buts?
Australia of course got off to a flyer. They needed to. They were, of course, helped in their cause as the Indians spilled two straightforward chances in the first few overs. Mark Waugh was his usual poised, cool self, standing tall, waiting for the ball, and using his gifted touch and timing to coax the bowler away for a steady stream of runs.
One of the mysteries of the night was why Mark Waugh stepped out to his doom when life was treating him so well upto that point. That left the door ajar a bit, and the Indians quickly put their foot in. Runs dried up somewhat and it was really down to Steve Waugh and Darren Lehmann to avert the unthinkable. But Steve Waugh was teased and tormented and put out of his misery. No points for guessing by who. And India roared back into the game.
By that time the assembled multitudes at the Bangabandhu Stadium had got more than their money's worth. What promised as an engrossing contest did take place in the end and irrespective of the outcome, the match was signed off with Tendulkar's signature.
In all honesty, there should be a law against anybody being so gifted. Best batsman, best bowler, a cricketer with a terminator complex. Frightening, really.