Today India is celebrating the 20 years of the NatWest Trophy win. India defeated host England in the final match of the NatWest series on July 13, 2002. That was the final of the tri-series between India, England, and Sri Lanka. This proved to be a victory that changed the world’s thoughts about team India. It was a win that gave the title of Dada to formal Indian captain and BCCI president Saurav Ganguly. This win also gave us two match-winners in the form of Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif.
Two English players Mark Trescothick and captain Nasser Hussain scored centuries. India got a huge target of 326 runs to win. Achieving this meant setting a world record for the successful chase of the biggest target at that time.
The men un blues had chased the target of 326 runs
The NatWest Trophy was a triangular cricket championship. Apart from hosts England, visitors India and Sri Lanka took part in it. The teams of India and England got their position in the finals. Batting first in the final match, England scored 325 at the loss of 5 wickets.
India was in the trouble, 5 wickets fell for 146 runs
India had a good start in the chase to the huge target. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly and another opener Virender Sehwag added 106 runs in 14.3 overs in the first wicket partnership. But in the next 40 runs, the game turned and India lost their five wickets. Sachin Tendulkar was the fifth wicket after scoring 14 runs.
Yuvraj and Kaif turned the game completely
Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif shared the 121 runs partnership. After the dismissal of Sachin, Indian spectators turned off the TV sets in despair. But, Young batsman Yuvraj Singh with 69 runs and Mohammad Kaif (87 runs) put on 121 runs in the sixth wicket partnership to bring India back into the match. Yuvraj Singh got out but Kaif along with the tailenders gave India to victory.