It was Match No. 21 of the ICC World Cup 1999. Under overcast conditions, a packed house in Taunton witnessed one of the most historic partnerships in ODI cricket history.
After Sri Lanka opted to field, India's Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid got together to script what was the then highest ODI partnership for the second wicket. The 318-run stand was the first-ever 300+ partnership in ODIs, which till date features in the top five stands in the format.
On this day in 1999, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid shared a 318-run stand against Sri Lanka in Taunton. It is the second-highest partnership in ICC Men’s @cricketworldcup 🔥📽️ pic.twitter.com/N7yJuA6rvg
— ICC (@ICC) May 26, 2021
After losing Sadagoppan Ramesh to Chaminda Vaas early, Dravid came out to join Ganguly at No. 3. What followed was an absolute masterclass from the two legendary players.
Ganguly went on to script his highest ODI score of 183 runs off just 158 balls, his knock studded with 17 boundaries and 7 sixes.
From Vaas to Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, Ganguly took on everyone alike, playing his trademark drives and hoicks over long on dancing-down-the-track.
Watch Highlights from Sourav Ganguly's Knock below:
(Video hosted on Robelinda2's Youtube)
Ganguly went on to script his highest ODI score of 183 runs off just 158 balls, his knock studded with 17 boundaries and 7 sixes.
From Vaas to Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, Ganguly took on everyone alike, playing his trademark drives and hoicks over long on dancing-down-the-track.
Watch Highlights from Sourav Ganguly's Knock below:
(Video hosted on Robelinda2's Youtube)
This was his first century in that World Cup, which he brought up in 119 balls. The remaining 83 runs came off just 39 balls - a remarkable sight for those days! His innings came to an end in the last over when he tried to clear the ropes for another maximum off Pramodya Wickramasinghe. But by then, the damage was already done - India had a massive 373-6 on the board!
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Dravid, too, on the other end, was at his attacking best as he blasted his way to a 129-ball 145, smashing 17 boundaries and a maximum along the way. With Ganguly, Dravid helped India post 373/6, which was followed up clinically by the Indian bowlers as India romped home for a 175-run win.
Back then, 145 runs was Dravid's personal best in ODIs. He eclipsed that record later in the same year when he scored 153 against New Zealand, en route to his 331-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar.
