Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test century

23 years ago, Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test century

On August 14, 1990, a 17-year-old scored the sixth century of what turned out to be a memorable Test match at Old Trafford. It also happened to be the most brilliant of them all, coming as it did from a cherubic batsman in his teens and helping India secure a draw when victory looked the most likely outcome. The batsman was Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, and the century was his first at international level.

It was, in all means of the word, an outstanding innings. India had been set 408 to win against a bowling attack featuring Devon Malcolm, Angus Fraser and Eddie Hemmings. They proceeded to lose Navjot Sidhu (0), Ravi Shastri (12), Sanjay Manjrekar (50) and Dilip Vengsarkar (32). Tendulkar walked out at the fall of Vengsarkar's wicket with India 109 for 4. His skipper, Mohammad Azharduddin, was at the crease with only Kapil Dev and Kiran More to follow as recognised batsman. It was Tendulkar's ninth Test.

Azharuddin departed for 11 at 127 for 5, bringing out Kapil. He and the young Tendulkar put on 56 before Kapil danced out to Hemmings and was bowled for 26. Manoj Prabhakar joined Tendulkar at 183 for 6 with two and a half hours left to save the Test. On 10, Tendulkar was given a slice of luck when Hemmings dropped a simple return catch. The teenager never looked back