5 Bowling records held by batsmen in professional cricket

1. Defending 6 or fewer runs more than once in ODI cricket

Sachin Tendulkar’s longevity in International cricket helped him to carry major batting records in both Test cricket and ODI cricket. Sachin had the skill of bowling medium-pace, off-spin, leg-spin and googly; all in the same match if not in the same over itself. Tendulkar’s excellence under pressure with the ball was proved during the famous 1992 Tied ODI at the WACA against West Indies. He was given the ball to defend six runs with ten overs to go as all the four specialist bowlers finished their 10 overs quota.

Tendulkar gave away five runs but picked a wicket on the last ball of the over which was the 10th wicket of West Indies innings. Mohammad Azharuddin, the then Indian captain, once against trusted Tendulkar during the 1993 Hero Cup semi-final against South Africa. Chasing 196 to win, South Africa were 190/8 ahead of the final over which was to be bowled by Sachin. Azharuddin’s trust to bowl the Mumbaikar ahead of the specialist bowlers paid off. Tendulkar gave away only three runs and India won by 2 runs.

Three years later, a similar situation was witnessed as Australia were 284/9 chasing 290 in the Titan Cup match at the end of 49th over. Sachin Tendulkar, the captain of the game, took the responsibility of bowling the last over. Brad Hogg was run out on the very first ball of the match as India won the game by five runs. Thus, Sachin became the first player to defend six or fewer runs in the last over of an ODI on two different instances. No player till date managed to break or equal Tendulkar’s achievement.