India and Zimbabwe met each other for the 1998 Sharjah Champion Trophy Final on 13th November. This was the golden phase of the Zimbabwe cricket and they overcame Sri Lanka to reach the final along with India. In fact, they also beat India in the last match of the Group stage as their mercurial fast bowler Henry Olonga took four wickets including Tendulkar whom he got with fast, short delivery.
Indians had revenge on their mind and their bowlers were on the money from the start. Ajit Agarkar picked up the captain Alistair Campbell with his first ball and Javagal Srinath ensured that they were 44/3 around 11th over. Wickets were falling in regular interval and at 116/ 7 it looked like Zimbabwe might be folded before 150. This was when leg-spinner Paul Strang and experienced Eddo Brandes started some recovery. They added 58 runs in 14 overs and took the total to 174 before Brandes was dismissed by Sachin Tendulkar for 33. Strang took the innings further and was out in the 50th over for 46. Zimbabwe finished on 196/9 as Srinath finished as the most successful bowler for India with 3/40. Anil Kumble also captured two wickets for 29 runs.
Indian openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly walked out to bat with intense focus and determination. Tendulkar immediately attacked Olonga as he wanted to teach him a lesson. Olonga went for 50 runs in his six overs and also the other bowlers were not spared too. Paul Strang conceded nine runs per over in his 5 overs and Grant Flower went for 28 runs in his three overs as Ganguly also joined the fun with Tendulkar in the later stage. Tendulkar scored 124 of 92 balls. His innings was decorated with 12 fours and 6 sixes. Ganguly also supported ably with his 63 which included four boundaries and three massive sixes.
India completed the win in the 30th over and not a single wicket was lost. A 10-wicket win in a tournament final is a rare event and India achieved it thanks to the mastery of their dynamic opening duo.
