117* and 91 in the 2008 CB series finals

Team India had qualified for the finals of the CB series triangular in 2007-08 after beating out Sri Lanka and set up the dates for the best of three finals against the host Australia. The Indian team had never won a tri-series in Australia, apart from a five-nation Benson and Hedges World Championship in 1985.

Australia was without their two biggest assets in Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, both of whom had retired the previous year. The onus of victory fell in team India on the shoulders of Sachin Tendulkar and the bowlers and both came to the party in the two most important matches.

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In the first final, Indian bowlers kept the Australian side to 239/8 with only Matthew Hayden making 82 runs. In reply, Sachin anchored one end with a sublime 117* in 120 balls with 10 fours. It was his first century in an ODI in Australia and with the help of 66 from a young Rohit Sharma, took India to a six-wicket victory with over 4 overs to spare.

In the second final, Tendulkar again starred with the bat, scoring a brilliant 91 with 7 fours in 121 balls. He along with contributions from Uthappa, Gambhir, Yuvraj, and Dhoni, took India to 258/9. In reply, half-centuries from Matthew Hayden and James Hopes kept Australia’s spirits alive, but Indian bowlers proved to be too good with Praveen Kumar picking 4/46.

Sachin Tendulkar proved once again that he was the master of important matches when it comes to playing against the Australians, a replay of something he did a decade ago in Sharjah.