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Robin recalls that final

Mohammad Isam
Ten years ago, on a cold January morning, the bitter foes were involved in a fantastic match that broke a few barriers in one-day cricket Witnessed by a packed to the rafters Bangabandhu National Stadium and millions at home. India reached a massive victory target of 315 runs and it was a world record for chasing the largest total to win an GDI at that time. The game in itself created an example for future one-day matches when teams batting second did not think twice when up against a big score.
But on that fine day, it would be hard to find any cricket-lover in Bangladesh who did not watch that game. Everyone pretty much remembers where he or she was when that final half-hour took shape into some of the nervewrecking and memorable moments in one-day cricket
The game also played its part in renewing ties between the two cross-border rivals and it was only a matter of time before they became regular opponents rather than battling occasionally in neutral venues. These days, excessive India -Pakistan clashes have diluted the enthusiasm somewhat and there was a lack of interest around the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
But Robin, India's successful fielding coach who is accompanying the side in Dhaka, exactly remembered a different occasion at the Big Bowl when his 82 played a pivotal role in India's victory.
"It had never happened before
(in one-day cricket)," recalled Robin as he hurriedly packed away his kits after a short fielding session.
"There was a big crowd that day with lot of enthusiasm and it was the sort of game that was unheard of in those days. Nobody chased like we did that day," said the former allrounder who played 136 GDIs and just the soleTest match.
India had easily defeated
Pakistan in the first final of that triangular tournament also involving hosts Bangladesh. Pakistan gave one back, banking on a four-wicket haul from Mohammad Hussain and so, all eyes were on the Big Bowl for the third final.
Pakistan took control of that game from the foggy morning up until the sun came out briefly in the
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afternoon as Saeed Anwar, one of the leading one-day openers, and Ijaz Ahmed plundered hundreds as Pakistan reached a mammoth 314 for 5 in 48 overs on the Ila ttest of flat tracks
Having made a comeback into the one-day outfit after making his debut way back in 1989, Trinidad-born Robin became a regular in the side by the time he strode out to bat at number three. Shahid Afridi had just dismissed Sachin Tendulkar after the 'little master' gave India the perfect start with a cracking 41.
Robin joined fellow left-hander Sourav Ganguly and the pair dispatched whatever came their way. From the ninth over, the left handed pair added 179 runs for the
second wicket in just two hours to hand ’r Ji ’ ‘^e winning position as he made a run-a-ball innings with two massive sixes and just four boundaries. Ganguly went on to score a classic century and slowly took India close to the victory.
The foggy day turned worse as the afternoon wore on and the light deteriorated by the minute after left-arm spinner Mohammad Hussain dismissed Robin in the 39th over with India needing a further 65 runs to win.
"They used (football) floodlights after the light became very bad and seeing the old ball was getting very difficult,” said Robin and added, "The white ball gets changed these days whenever it is
discoloured but it was not the case back in 1998."
Robin's fielding was always a standout in the Indian team of the 90s and on that day, he shone with the bat and became a regular at the number three position as a p inch latter
When little-known Hrishikesh Kanitkar's penultimate ball boundary off Pakistani great Saqlain Mushtaq that sealed the victory and made a hero out of himself and made Robin Singh a household name.
It remains to be seen how this final pans out but it would be unwise to write off another exciting contest, which will be keenly watched by Robin from the glassed confines of die Indian dressing room.