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'Jaan laga di thi sabne milke'

By Rediff Cricket
July 13, 2020

IMAGE: India captain Sourav Ganguly hugs Mohammad Kaif after India's historic win in the NatWest Trophy final on July 13, 2002. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Mohammad Kaif/Twitter

July 13, 2002 was a day a landmark was set in Indian cricket.

 

It was the day India had defeated England by two wickets in the finals of the Natwest Trophy at the Lord's Cricket Ground to record a memorable win -- with it came a warning that Sourav Ganguly’s India would not back down, no matter how tough the battle.

 

IMAGE: An ecstatic Indian cricket team on winning the NatWest Trophy. Photograph: Kind courtesy, ICC/Twitter

"#Throwback to Natwest 2002 Final. Jaan laga di thi sab ne mil ke! We were young and we wanted to win. It was a wonderful team effort that helped us beat England and clinch the trophy in this nail-biting game," Yuvraj wrote on Instagram.

IMAGE: Standing on the balcony at Lords in London, a bare-chested Sourav Ganguly swirls his shirt after Team India defeated England in the Natwest Trophy final. It remains one of the unforgettable images of Indian cricket. Photograph: PTI Photos

In the Natwest final in 2002, India were set a target of 326 after England put up 325/5, with Marcus Trescothick and Nasser Hussain registering centuries for the hosts.

Ganguly and Virender Sehwag had provided India a good start before being dismissed and in no time India had lost five wickets -- Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Dinesh Mongia were dismissed cheaply.

IMAGE: Mohammad Kaif played a match-winning knock in the NatWest Trophy final in 2002. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Struggling at 146/5, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif came to the crease and staged a fightback, putting on a partnership of 121 runs to give India a glimmer of hope.

Yuvraj was dismissed after scoring 69 runs, but Kaif (87 not out) batted well with the tailenders to give India a memorable win with three balls to spare.

As the winning run was hit, skipper Ganguly took his shirt off at the balcony of Lord's Cricket Ground to celebrate in style.

Rediff Cricket

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