Which batsman has made the highest one-day score for India against England? (14 January 2002)

In as many as 36 one-day internationals between India and England, Indian batsmen, surprisingly, have only made five centuries. And of the five, as many as three have been made when India ended up as the losing side. The century we are talking about, though, fabricated a happy ending for the Indians.

The 1993 series against England had initially proved memorable for Mohammad Azharuddin's Indians. Returning from disastrous campaigns on foreign soils, the team, led from the front by their skipper, notched comprehensive and much-needed wins over the Englishmen in all three Tests of the series.

The six one-dayers that followed, though, brought about a sudden reversal in the script; the Englishmen were now calling the shots, winning three of the first four ties. This meant that the fifth match at Gwalior was a must-win one for the Indians. Azhar put the Englishmen in, only to see them set India a challenging target of 257, courtesy Robin Smith thumping 129 off 145 balls at the top of the order.

The Indian reply got off to a catastrophic start - they lost their first two wickets with just four runs on the board. But Azhar and opener Navjot Singh Sidhu got together at this stage, revamping the scenario with rousing exhibitions of batsmanship. The partnership realised 175 runs before Azhar was dismissed for 74 off just 72 balls. Yet another Indian mini-collapse followed, and with the score reading 207 for five, England looked well on their way to a series-clinching win. Sidhu luckily found a staunch ally in Anil Kumble, and the pair put on an unbroken 52 runs for the eighth wicket, the doughty Sardar shifting into overdrive for the last leg of his unbeaten 134 off 160 balls.

India later won the final one-dayer, also at Gwalior, by four wickets, tying the series at 3-3. Sidhu, incidentally, was named Man of the Series.

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