In the fourth of six instalments running throughout the India-England series, we delve into the Wisden Almanack archive to pick out a memorable one-day match between the sides. Here we remember an innings which heralded the dawn of a new feature of one-day cricket – pinch-hitting Match 1: When Botham met Tendulkar
Match 2: Jadeja blows hot in the desert
Match 3: Gavaskar's go-slow at Lord's

Nehru Cup 1989-90
India won by 6 wickets

The ninth match of the Nehru Cup, a tournament featuring all the Test-playing countries with the exception of New Zealand, was an unremarkable one-day game except for the contribution of Chetan Sharma. Better known as a seamer, India promoted Sharma from his usual place at No. 9 to No. 4 in a bid for quick runs. The ploy proved inspired. Chancing his arm, he smashed an unbeaten, if not chanceless, 101 off just 96 balls, reaching his first century in any form of cricket with the winning boundary. If it was the dawn of the pinch hitter then the Indians didn't seem to realise it. Sharma resumed his usual tailend role in their next match, and although he was given the No. 5 slot against Pakistan a week later, he managed only 10 and the experiment was not repeated.

Almanack report
Scorecard

Martin Williamson is managing editor of Wisden.com.

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