It is not often that Sachin Tendulkar stands his crease after being ruled out. And certainly most unusual for umpire to change his verdict after realising the batsman's reluctance to walk.
But then, it was a benefit tie, and Tendulkar stayed back. For what followed was thorough entertaining cricket and the 3,000 odd fans got full worth of their money at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The Mumbaikar, in city to play a fund-raiser for former India international Gursharan Singh, spent only about an hour on the field but made sure that the event in honour of the former Ranji Trophy winning cricketer was a total success.
Early in the innings, Tendulkar was found short of the crease at the non-striker's end when a full blooded straight drive by Mahendra Singh Dhoni kissed the bowler's fingers before knocking down the stumps.
The umpire's finger went up spontaneously upon a loud appeal. But K Hariharan, an international umpire, brought down his index finger in the same flow. Murali Kartik too was quick to mute his celebrations and walk back to his mark.
When the crowds finally realised what was happening, they did not let it matter.
Tendulkar gave them their due. After a few knockdowns to get the timing right -- they did not use the proper cricket ball-- the master cut loose. A 54-ball 90 laced with 15 fours and three sixes on all sides of the ground before he holed out to Sourav Ganguly in the deep satisfied the appetite.
VVS Laxman (43) and Yuvraj Singh (27) saw the team reach 211 in 28.5 overs before Rahul Dravid (58, 43b) anchored Sourav Ganguly XI to a comfortable four-wicket win.
Then again, who cared for the scores?
After rolling his arm for two overs, Ganguly was happy to let Dravid do the captaining and was content to place himself at the boundary by the pavilion, signing autographs for the fans in between play.
Ajay Jadeja was happy to be among his former teammates. The highpoint was sharing the strike with Tendulkar. But the partnership shortlived as Jadeja flashed outside off stump and was caught behind.
Yuvraj played the shot of the match, a straight lofted drive that perched the white ball in the second tier above the sightscreen.
Anil Kumble had a Tendulkar-like reprieve when he was stumped by Parthiv Patel but the umpire immediately no-balled.
But the Karnataka bowler, who has happy memories of Kotla, failed to capitalise and was bowled the next ball.
The chase was a monotony as the cricketers lost focus and the fans went out of control. Once Sehwag was dismissed, it was chaos with the tiny tots and elderly alike beseiging the dressing room for a photograph or an autograph of their favourite cricketers.
The media, fighting for a quote and 'bite', added to the confusion.
The frail figure of Eknath Solkar went unnoticed. The 57-year-old legend, who took 53 catches in 27 Tests, lives in Mumbai but frequents Delhi. His was a kind gesture to drop in and convey his regards to Gursharan.
