Flashback: The highest ODI score by Indian opener in Zimbabwe

One of the greatest cricketers and arguably the best Indian batters of all time, Sachin Tendulkar played one of his finest innings in ODI cricket in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe on September 26, 1998. He scored an unbeaten 127 runs off 130 balls with 13 fours and one six.

Earlier in the match, Zimbabwe skipper and opening batter Alistair Campbell played a magnificent knock of 53 runs off 41 balls with nine fours. Wicketkeeper-batter Andy Flower and Craig Evans contributed in the middle, scoring 30 runs off 33 balls and 34 runs off 59 balls respectively.

Campbell’s side finished with a total of 213 in 50 overs. Pacer Ajith Agarkar and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh starred in the bowling department for India, picking up three wickets each. Javagal Srinath, Anil Kumble and Robin Singh also chipped in with a wicket each.

During the chase, India opened the innings with the iconic pairing of Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. India lost their first wicket early as Ganguly departed for 11 runs off 20 balls in the seventh over pacer Heath Streak. Rahul Dravid came in at number three and played a valuable hand, scoring 64 runs off 98 balls.

Dravid also built the all-important partnership of 180 runs with Tendulkar and was dismissed in the 41st over to medium pacer Gary Brent. Tendulkar, on the other end, brought up his 18th ODI hundred and 34th overall, and also took the Men in Blue in 42.2 overs. To this day, his knock of 127* stands as the highest score in ODIs scored by an Indian opener in Zimbabwe.

On what was a gloomy day for the Zimbabwean bowlers, star pacer Streak was the pick of the bowlers for the hosts, finishing with one wicket for 30 runs in eight overs. Brent ended with one wicket for 53 runs, while the rest of the bowlers, Pommie Mbangwa, Paul Strang, Craig Evans and Andy Whittall were all wicketless. India also won the next match of the three-match ODI series and wrapped up the series with a game in hand.