The most elegant cricketing legends who were in form both marked the beginning of phenomenal Test careers on the same day, November 15, 1989, in the India-Pakistan match in Karachi. That match opened the beginning of famous journeys in cricket history.
November 15 1989, will be remembered as a day in the history of cricket when two future giants of the game, Sachin Tendulkar and Waqar Younis, were to make their Test debuts for their respective sides; the latter on his home ground, Karachi, against India, at the age of 16.
Waqar Younis came to international cricket at he tender age of 18, and all one could make of him was a possible great future in a great fast bowler.
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Match Highlights
The Karachi Test ended in a draw but was full of notable performances. Pakistan’s batting first brought up 409 runs in the first innings. Skipper Imran Khan led from the front, scoring a brilliant 109 off 146 balls.
The man of the game for India was star bowler Manoj Prabhakar, who had a five-wicket haul and Kapil Dev four wickets.
India batted their way to 262 runs, giving Pakistan a lead of 147. It was Waqar Younis’s show here, as four wickets cost him almost the same number as four wickets from Wasim Akram.
Tendulkar’s first Test knock was a mere 15 runs, as he fell to no less than a bowler than Waqar.
Second Innings Drama
Saleem Malik once again dominated the game with 102* and Shoaib Mohammad with a hard-hitting knock of 95 runs in Pakistan’s second innings.
Pakistan declared their innings at 305/5 with a daunting target of 453 for India.
It was once more Sanjay Manjrekar who batted out the whole of India’s second innings for them. He, with an unbeaten 113 runs, accompanied by Navjot Singh Sidhu, who himself posted 85 runs, saw India through to 303/3 in a game that had to be declared a draw.
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Dawn of Excellence
Though this match remained inconclusive, it paved the way for two other good careers. Tendulkar developed as the most successful run-getter in international cricket, while Waqar was one of the most feared and dreadful bowlers in his time.
This Test match debut still remains as one of the best memories of cricket itself because of the emergence of these great all-time heroes.
Reference: Sportstiger.com
