5 Centuries Which Ended Up On A Losing Side At The Asia Cup
Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 100th international ton (Twitter)
Since 1984, Asia Cup has stood out as a perennial platform where subcontinental teams vie for Asian supremacy. Amidst countless triumphs and personal milestones, certain centuries from the most prominent of batters have emerged as reflections of flamboyant individual batting brilliance, but at the expense of team losses.
Ahead of the much-awaited 2023 Asia Cup, here at OneCricket, we look back at five such resounding hundreds from batters which had contrasting outcomes for their teams in the game. Such innings serve as a reminder that even in the pursuit of individualistic batting excellence, one can have a bitter experience of defeat.
1.Sanath Jayasuriya - 130 vs India in 2004
Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya in action (Twitter)
Sri Lankan batting marauder Sanath Jayasuriya pummelled Indian bowlers for nearly 47 overs in a tense run-chase, before his untimely dismissal paved way for hosts to fall a boundary short of their target.
Chasing a daunting 272 in Colombo four days prior to the 2004 final against the same opponents, the entirety of hosts’ top six, sans Jayasuriya, perished in front of the visiting Indian bowlers. The burly southpaw, however, kept the scoreboard ticking with tactical aggression. He smacked 130 at nearly run-a-ball, with 14 boundaries and a six to his name prior to his downfall at the edge of the finishing line.
2.Shoaib Malik - 125 vs India in 2008
Shoaib Malik sweeps en route to his hundred (Twitter)
Then Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik unfurled one of the innings of his illustrious ODI career when he stepped up against arch-rivals India in a Group B game of 2008. The opening batter firmly guarded his end of the crease, throughout his 119-ball stay, and belted 16 boundaries and a six in the process.
Tendering nearly all Indian bowlers clueless in the innings, it finally took cramps to remove the batting master from the middle. By the time of his untimely departure, Pakistan was set on course for a competitive total and eventually reached 299.
However, rival opener Virender Sehwag overpowered the Pakistani captain with a barbaric run-chase pounding, unleashing 119 to engineer an electric Indian win with nearly eight overs to spare.
3.Shahid Afridi - 109 vs Sri Lanka in 2010
Shahid Afridi during 2010 Asia Cup (Twitter)
Chasing a modest 243 to win against hosts Sri Lanka in 2010, Pakistan slumped to 32-4 off the back of Lasith Malinga’s pace and new-ball acumen. Then captain Shahid Afridi, batting at number six, arrived to the crease as early as within the team’s first 14 overs.
From thereon, the batting barbarian emerged as a lonewolf from Pakistan’s run-chase, all while overcoming a charged-up Malinga, cramps, top-order failure, and a mounting required rate. The all-round maverick clubbed 109 glorious runs to register one of the best centuries of his glittering career.
Whacking seven sixes and eight boundaries in his 76-ball exhibition, his dismissal just 38 runs away from Pakistan’s target triggered a 16-run Sri Lankan win at the end.
4.Litton Das - 121 vs India in 2018
Litton Das celebrates maiden ODI ton (Twitter)
On the day of the final, Bangladeshi opener Litton Das unfurled the innings of the match, and possibly, the innings of the tournament. The dynamic right-hander cut, pulled, swept his way to an alluring 121 against an Indian bowling attack, composed of the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Das plundered two sixes and 12 boundaries in his innings, and it took a controversial stumping decision to curtail his stay from the crease. Notably, his 121 also amounted more than half of Bangladesh’s 222 at the title clash, a total overhauled by Team India off the final delivery to lift the 2018 Asia Cup title.
5.Sachin Tendulkar - 114 vs Bangladesh in 2012
Sachin Tendulkar flicks one against Bangladesh in 2012 (Twitter)
India’s tournament-crashing defeat to hosts Bangladesh in 2012 is more prominent for Sachin Tendulkar’s long-awaited 100th international century. The ‘Master Blaster’, however, could have batted a bit quicker than he did as his painstakingly slow ton ended up costing Team India some 20 runs and a title.
Opening the innings with Gautam Gambhir, Tendulkar reached his century off the 137th ball of his innings, and managed 114 in all during his 147-ball stay at the crease. He stroked 12 boundaries and a six in the game, which also turned out to be the penultimate ODI outing for the format’s most-capped player.
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