Sachin Tendulkar came out of retirement, so to speak, and faced one over during the innings break of the Bushfire Bash match between Ponting XI and Gilchrist XI at the Junction Oval, Melbourne on Sunday.
Tendulkar faced Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry (including two balls from Annabel Sutherland). He later said that he was thankful that he could still see the ball, five-and-a-half years after batting last.
Perry bowled the first four balls and Tendulkar got off the mark with a boundary through the fine-leg region. Perry had her Australian teammates as the fielders.
Will Sachin bat for the first time in five and a half years?
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
He wants to see more donations first! Donate here: https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/7VMYqlcoPo
"I was more nervous than she was" - Sachin Tendulkar did his bit for the #BigAppeal today, facing Aussies Ellyse Perry & Annabel Sutherland. You can still donate at https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s pic.twitter.com/6bLWPSJ5Lh
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
That was not the only highlight of the day in Melbourne as many superstars of yesteryears were in action during the match. Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Brett Lee were seen in action as Ponting XI batted first and posted 104/5 in 10 overs.
Lara once again showed his stylish batting and scored 30 runs off just 11 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes. Lara was, without a doubt, the star of the day.
Ponting also scored 26 runs with four fours in the innings.
Matthew Hayden hit the first six of the match but he was dismissed after scoring 16 runs by Yuvraj Singh. Andrew Symonds and Courtney Walsh were the other two wicket-takers for Gilchrist XI.
Six over mid-off, if you don't mind!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
And Brian Lara retires on 30 👏 #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/HtDYHILu2u
He's still got it! 👌
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
Donate to the #BigAppeal here: https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s pic.twitter.com/7NPPzO6ILK
Here’s a near 3-minute clip of Lara’s outing on Sunday, sure to make every 90s kid nostalgic:
But seriously, how good was it watching Brian Charles Lara do his thing again yesterday?! #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/6wVmTCw8pA
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 10, 2020
In the chase, Gilchrist blasted Lee for a six over square-leg to begin with before being dismissed. But Shane Watson and Symonds were at their best as they dealt in boundaries. Even the great Wasim Akram could not stop the duo as Watson scored 30 runs off just nine balls.
GILLY! 💥
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
Donate to the #BigAppeal here: https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s pic.twitter.com/eHqOhbiC9y
Ultimately, after some last ball drama it seemed Ponting XI were declared the winners by a run but the result did not really matter. It was a day of giving and nostalgia for cricket lovers.
DestROY! #BigAppeal pic.twitter.com/8VGY6KpZrr
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
"He's still giving me nightmares" - some gold from Justin Langer, who resumed rivalries with the great Courtney Walsh today at the Bushfire Appeal... and lost! pic.twitter.com/cytyZYk648
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
The Ponting XI won, apparently. But it wasn't about the result today!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 9, 2020
Lots of money raised today, and still time to contribute! https://t.co/HgP8Vhnk9s pic.twitter.com/ZFFFrQmyLb
All match profits and funds raised across the weekend’s Big Appeal will go to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
(Clarification: The original report said Gilchrist XI won the match, it has now been corrected)